Draft History: Titans top picks led by McNair and three running backs
The Houston Oilers won the first two American Football League titles in 1960-61, and a potential three-peat was stopped in double overtime by the Dallas Texans (later known as the Kansas City Chiefs) in the 1962 AFL Championship Game. Since that game, the franchise has made it to six title contests as both the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans. The latest include an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV and a surprising run to the AFC title game in 2019. While there are no players from the early Oilers championships among the team’s best draft picks, the top 10 list does include four stars who played in the team’s only Super Bowl.
BEST
10. (tie) Ken Houston, S (Round 9, Pick 214 in 1967) and Cris Dishman, CB (Round 5, Pick 125 in 1988) - Houston was an All-American in football, and he participated in swimming and track at Prairie View A&M. He was a Pro Bowler in five of six seasons with the Oilers, recording 25 interceptions and returning nine for touchdowns (tied for fifth in NFL history). In 1971, he had five defensive/special teams scores (four picks and a fumble), a single-season league record that stood until Bears return man Devin Hester set the new mark with six (four punts and two kickoffs) in 2006. Houston was traded to the Redskins in 1973, and he was selected to seven straight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. After his retirement in 1980, Houston coached at several levels, and now serves on the advisory board of his alma mater.
Dishman was a member of the All-Big Ten team in 1987 with Purdue and spent nine seasons with the Oilers. He ranks second in team history with 31 interceptions, including six in 1991, when he earned his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections with Houston. Dishman also had 485 tackles, 12 fumble recoveries and 11 forced fumbles before he signed with the Redskins in 1997. He spent two seasons with Washington, and one each with Kansas City and Minnesota before retiring in 2000. After his playing career, Dishman became a coach at multiple levels (NFL, NFL Europe, College and the CFL). He was the defensive backs coach with the XFL’s New York Guardians before the league folded in April 2020.
9. Jurrell Casey, DT (Round 3, Pick 77 in 2011) - Casey was an All-Pac-10 honoree at USC in 2010. He played in 139 games in nine seasons with Tennessee, and ranks fifth in team history with 51 sacks, including a career-high 10½ in 2013. Casey was selected to five straight Pro Bowls before the Titans traded him to the Broncos in March 2020.
8. Jevon Kearse, DE (Round 1, Pick 16 in 1999) - Kearse was given his nickname of “The Freak” by his teammates at Florida, and he certainly earned the moniker. He was a part of the Gators’ National Championship team in 1996, and earned All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Honors in 1998. Kearse became a “freak” in the NFL as well: he was a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting a league-leading eight forced fumbles as well as 14½ sacks, which is a record for first-year players. Kearse had two tackles and a sack in Super Bowl XXXIV, but the Titans lost to the Rams. The three-time Pro Bowler is Tennessee’s all-time leader with 22 forced fumbles and ranks fourth with 52 sacks. Kearse missed 12 games in 2002 with a fractured toe, and signed with the Eagles two years later. He had 22 sacks in four seasons with Philadelphia before going back to Tennessee as a free agent. Kearse played two seasons with the Titans before retiring in 2009. He started a foundation to aid underprivileged children and was named to the SEC Football Legends Class in 2019.
7. Elvin Bethea, DE (Round 3, Pick 77 in 1968) - A North Carolina A&T graduate, Bethea played 210 games with Houston, including 135 in a row from 1968-76, which ended when he broke his arm. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler who ranks second among defensive players in Oilers history with 16 fumble recoveries, including a league-best five in 1972. Although sacks were not an official statistic until 1982, Bethea’s totals of 105 in his career and 16 in 1973 would both be team records. He retired in 1983 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Two years later, Bethea wrote a book about his football experience, and he is a proponent of better health benefits for former NFL players.
6. Mike Munchak, G (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1982) - Munchak was a starter at Penn State, but missed the 1980 season due to a knee injury. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, including seven straight from 1987-93. Although he missed 10 games in 1986 with another knee injury, Munchak was a two-time All-Pro in his 12 seasons with Houston before retiring in 1993. After his playing career, he went into coaching. Munchak spent 20 more years with the franchise, and has a 22-26 record in three seasons as Titans head coach from 2011-13. The 2001 Pro Football Hall of Famer was Pittsburgh’s offensive line coach from 2014-18, and now holds the same position with the Broncos.
5. Chris Johnson, RB (Round 1, Pick 24 in 2008) - Johnson was a two-time All-Conference USA selection at East Carolina, but he was valued more for his kick return prowess than as a rusher. He shed that image as a professional, running for at least 1,000 yards in his first six seasons. “CJ2K” earned Pro Bowl, All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2009 with 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the sixth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a season. His totals of 7,965 yards and 50 scores both rank third in franchise history. After the Titans released the three-time Pro Bowler in 2014, his production declined in one year with the Jets and three with the Cardinals before he retired in 2018.
4. Eddie George, RB (Round 1, Pick 14 in 1996) - George finished his college career at Ohio State in 1995 with one of the most productive seasons in modern football history. He ran for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy, while also earning All-American, Big Ten MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards, the Maxwell Award (best all-around player), Walter Camp Award (best player as voted by college coaches and sports information directors) and the Doak Walker Award (top running back). George was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1996 after rushing for 1,368 yards and eight scores. In eight seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise, the four-time Pro Bowler ran for at least 1,000 yards seven times. He ran for 1,509 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn All-Pro honors in 2000. George holds the team record with 10,009 yards and ranks second with 64 scores. He signed with the Cowboys for one final season in 2004, but was out nearly two months with a fractured scapula. George was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He has been an entrepreneur and a Broadway actor.
3. Steve McNair, QB (Round 1, Pick 3 in 1995) - McNair made even the casual college football fan aware of Alcorn State in the mid 1990s. He had 4,863 passing yards, 44 touchdowns and 936 rushing yards in 1994, and the 5,799 total yards that season were the most in college football history at the time (he now ranks fifth, with potential 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow topping the list with 6,039). McNair finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year behind Rashaan Salaam and Ki-Jana Carter. After backing up veteran Chris Chandler in his first two seasons, McNair became the starter when the franchise moved to Tennessee in 1997. In 11 seasons with the club, he was selected to three Pro Bowls and threw for at least 3,000 yards five times. During the 1999 playoffs, Tennessee’s defense was the catalyst while “Air McNair” was held in check. He threw for 214 yards against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, but a pass play to Kevin Dyson that would have tied the score in the closing seconds came up a yard short. He was named NFL MVP in 2003 after throwing for 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. McNair ranks second in team history with 27,141 yards and third with 156 touchdowns. He signed with the Ravens in 2006 and spent two seasons in Baltimore before retiring in 2008. A year later, McNair was shot and killed.
2. Bruce Matthews, OL (Round 1, Pick 9 in 1983) - One of the most versatile linemen in football history, Matthews played every offensive line position at USC and started at each of the five line spots for at least one full season in the NFL. He was an All-American, and won the Morris Trophy as best Pac-10 lineman in 1982. Matthews started all but one game in his first four years before sitting out the first half of the 1987 season in a contract dispute. Once the holdout ended, he earned 14 straight Pro Bowl selections, was named to seven All-Pro teams, and started 224 straight games. Matthews was a stalwart for the franchise for 19 seasons, an era that includes their move from Houston to Tennessee. He also appeared in 15 playoff games, including starting at left guard in Super Bowl XXXIV. His 296 career games rank third among non-kickers in NFL history behind only Jerry Rice (303) and Brett Favre (302). Matthews retired in 2001, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and was a coach with the Texans and Titans from 2009-13. He comes from one of the most respected families in football history, with his father (Clay Sr.), brother (Clay Jr.), two sons (Kevin and Jake), and two nephews (Clay III and Casey) all playing in the NFL.
1. Earl Campbell, RB (Round 1, Pick 1 in 1978) - Nicknamed the “Tyler Rose” after his Texas hometown, Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 after leading the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns. The two-time All-American at USC continued his stellar play with Houston. The Oilers moved into the top spot by trading star tight end Jimmie Giles and four draft picks to the Buccaneers, and Campbell made sure Houston got the better end of that deal. He earned All-Pro, Offensive Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year honors after rushing for 13 touchdowns and a league-high 1,450 yards in 1978. The following season, he led the NFL with 1,697 yards and 19 scores to win MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Campbell led the league once again in 1980 with 13 touchdowns and a career-high 1,934 yards, which was second-most in NFL history at the time. After making a fifth Pro Bowl and rushing for at least 1,300 yards in 1983, Campbell was traded to the Saints during the following season. He currently is the Houston/Tennessee franchise leader with 73 touchdowns and is second with 8,574 yards. Campbell had a diminished role in the New Orleans offense behind fellow Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, and retired in 1986. The 1991 Pro Football Hall of Famer, special athletic assistant at Texas and meat company owner has faced a variety of ailments stemming from the punishment sustained during his playing career. He now speaks out about the dangers of substance abuse.
WORST
10. Corey Davis, WR (Round 1, Pick 5 in 2017) - Davis still has time to become a solid performer in the NFL, but he has been inconsistent so far in three pro seasons. He was a three-time All-MAC performer at Western Michigan, and he earned All-American and MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2016. He graduated in 2017 as the NCAA Division I all-time leader with 5,278 receiving yards. Davis had his best pro season in 2018 when he posted 65 receptions, 891 yards, and four touchdowns. In the 2019 playoffs, he caught a touchdown pass from Derrick Henry in the Division Round against the Ravens and had five catches for 65 yards in a loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
9. Kevin Dyson, WR (Round 1, Pick 16 in 1998) - Dyson was a two-time first-team All-WAC at Utah State. He was a starter for the better part of five years with the Titans, but missed most of the 2000 season after tearing his ACL and MCL. Dyson finished his time in Tennessee with 176 catches, 2,310 yards, 18 touchdowns and two memorable moments, both during the 1999 playoffs. In the Wild Card round, he caught Frank Wycheck’s controversial lateral on a last-second kickoff and returned it 75 yards for a score in what is now known as the “Music City Miracle.” A little more than three weeks later, the Titans were driving to try and score a tying touchdown against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV. With five seconds left, Steve McNair hit Dyson with a pass over the middle. Mike Jones wrapped up Dyson’s legs and his stretch came up a yard short as time ran out. Dyson signed with the Panthers in 2003, and was in uniform for Carolina’s 32-29 loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He then failed to latch on with the Chargers and the Redskins, and retired in 2005. Dyson is currently the principal at Grassland Middle School in Tennessee.
8. Chris Henry, RB (Round 2, Pick 50 in 2007) - Henry spent most of his time at the University of Arizona splitting carries with another future NFL back, Mike Bell. He tested positive for a banned prescription medication during his rookie season, earning him a four-game suspension. Henry played just 10 games in three seasons with the Titans, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He signed with the Seahawks in 2010 and played one game before retiring the following year. Even this late in the draft, the Titans could have addressed wide receiver, a perpetual sore spot on offense, with Steve Smith Sr. and Jacoby Jones, or they could have selected eight-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Marshal Yanda.
7. Andre Woolfolk, CB (Round 1, Pick 28 in 2003) - Woolfolk was an Oklahoma product who played 39 games with the Titans, amassing 136 tackles. He also had three interceptions, all off the Texans and 2002 top overall pick David Carr. Woolfolk was released by Tennessee in 2006 and retired after being on the Jets’ practice squad in 2008.
6. George Amundson, RB (Round 1, Pick 14 in 1973) - Amundson was a quarterback at Iowa State, but moved to running back as a junior due to injuries on the Cyclones roster. He went back under center as a senior and earned Big Eight Player of the Year honors in 1972. Amundson is still the only Iowa State player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, but he lasted just two seasons with the Oilers, totaling 194 yards and four touchdowns rushing and 212 yards and one touchdown receiving. He signed with the Eagles in 1975, but did not have a touch in six games and retired after the season. Amundson is a longtime employee at Gulf Systems, a company specializing in electrical systems, solar power and network infrastructure.
5. Chance Warmack, G (Round 1, Pick 10 in 2013) - Warmack was a 2012 All-American and a member of three National Championship teams at Alabama. He spent his first three years as a starter in Tennessee before a hand injury limited him to just two games in 2016. Warmack signed with Philadelphia the following year and he was a reserve with the Eagles during their Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots. After one more year in Philadelphia, he was out of football in 2019. He signed with the Seahawks for the 2020 season.
4. Larry Elkins, WR (Round 1, Pick 2 in 1965) - Elkins was a two-time All-American at Baylor, and he chose the Oilers over the Packers, who selected him 10th overall in the 1965 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, a knee injury caused him to miss his rookie season in Houston, and hobbled him for the rest of his career, as he totaled 315 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons with the Oilers. After missing the 1968 season when he reinjured his knee, Elkins signed with the Steelers in 1969, but broke his collarbone in the preseason. After his playing career, he worked for the Brown and Root industrial services company and was also a member of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Water and Electricity.
3. Adam Jones, CB (Round 1, Pick 6 in 2005) - Jones was given the nickname “Pacman” as an infant, and his role as a kick returner allowed him to use his elusiveness much like the big yellow video game character. The 2004 All-Big East selection while at West Virginia totaled 712 punt return yards and four touchdowns, as well as 1,648 kickoff return yards in his first two seasons with the Titans. However, he managed to squander his chances with off-the-field issues, including a substance abuse policy suspension that kept him out for the entire 2007 season. Tennessee traded Jones to Dallas the following year, but the Cowboys released him when they learned he was a suspect in a shooting outside an Atlanta strip club five months after an alleged altercation at a Las Vegas strip club during NBA All-Star Weekend. After sitting out in 2009, Jones signed with Cincinnati, where he spent the next eight years. He was an All-Pro kick returner in 2014 and a Pro Bowler at cornerback the next year. Jones played his final season with the Broncos before retiring in 2019.
2. Jake Locker, QB (Round 1, Pick 8 in 2011) - Locker was a freshman All-American at Washington in 2007, but despite only modest improvements throughout his college career, he was the second quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft behind top pick Cam Newton. He had a 9-14 record in four seasons with Tennessee, competing for starts with Matt Hasselbeck, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Charlie Whitehurst and Zach Mettenberger. Locker suffered hip and Lisfranc injuries in 2013, as well as wrist and shoulder injuries the following year, and he retired in early 2015, citing a lack of desire to continue playing. He is now the co-owner of a fitness center.
1. Alonzo Highsmith, RB (Round 1, Pick 3 in 1987) - Highsmith was a high school All-American, and played on the University of Miami’s 1983 National Championship team as a freshman. He played only eight games in his rookie season after holding out, but started all 16 games at fullback in each of his next two seasons in Houston. When Jack Pardee became Oilers coach in 1990, he installed a run-and-shoot offense that did not work well with Highsmith’s running style, so he was traded to the Cowboys right before the season began. He had undergone several offseason knee surgeries that limited his playing time, and Dallas released him the following year after another holdout. Highsmith went to Tampa Bay, and spent about a year with the Buccaneers before his chronic knee issues caused him to be released and ultimately retire. After his playing career, Highsmith became a successful boxer, and has held front office positions with the Packers, Browns and Seahawks. Seattle hired him to its personnel department in 2020.
All NFL statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ and college football statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/
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