Titans agree to $26.04 million contract with first-round pick

Latham enjoyed a productive career at right tackle for the Crimson Tide. The former five-star recruit was durable, only missing one game across three seasons, starting full-time in his final two. He also garnered first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-American honors last year.

Latham has Pro Bowl-level potential at the next level, via Lance Zeirlein of NFL.com’s scouting report.

“Bulldozer in human form with the upper- and lower-body power to forcibly evacuate run lanes and instantly upgrade a team’s ground attack,” Zierlein said. “Latham’s body type is girthy, and he has elite drive-blocking talent. He has operated in a variety of run schemes but will be an average move blocker both laterally and when climbing to the second level.”

While Latham’s lack of lateral quickness and mobility will be an issue against agile edge rushers, his power and physicality give him a good foundation to build from.

“His pass sets are well-balanced with good initial quickness and active hands,” Zierlein continued. “He unleashes lefts and rights and mirrors effectively after contact but gets beaten by inside moves when he over-sets. He has the length and hand strength to shut rushers down but needs to become more comfortable setting diagonally rather than vertically to avoid sinking too deeply into his own pocket. Latham’s size, strength and talent give him a chance to become a heralded right tackle or Pro Bowl-caliber guard.”

Sinking too deeply into his pocket is an important point, as Titans quarterback Will Levis isn’t a dynamic rusher. While he’s mobile, he doesn’t have the elite-level type of escapability needed to constantly deal with edge rushers in his grill.

Regardless, Latham allowed only two sacks, six quarterback hits, and 22 hurries across his career. That’s why he was such a highly-regarded draft pick, despite the mobility issues.

Tennessee is so confident in him that the club has no issues changing his position right away, via Nick Suss of The Tennessean.

“Despite playing right tackle at Alabama, the Titans intend to play Latham at left tackle in the pros, making him second-year quarterback Will Levis’ new blindside protector,” Suss said.

While learning to protect the blindside is a big responsibility for a rookie lineman, Latham’s physical upside made it a no-brainer decision for the Titans. With the departure of star running back Derrick Henry in free agency, Tennessee could lean more heavily on the passing game going forward. That means that Latham will have to hit the ground running to avoid giving up blindside sacks in pass protection. His and Levis’s success will be heavily tied to each other over the next couple of seasons.