In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans faced a pivotal decision with their No. 82 overall pick. The draft board was ripe with future stars, including a Super Bowl MVP, a receiving yards leader, and a first-team All-Pro cornerback. Yet, the Titans opted for defensive tackle Mike Martin.
Martin's tenure in the NFL spanned four seasons, all with the Titans, from 2012 to 2015. His contributions included 4.0 sacks and 12 tackles for loss over 46 games, with five starts. While solid, this performance left fans pondering what might have been.
At the time, the Titans were heading into the season with Jake Locker as their starter, backed up by veteran Matt Hasselbeck. With the No. 82 pick, they had the chance to shake things up.
Consider this: at No. 88, the Philadelphia Eagles snagged Nick Foles. Foles would go on to etch his name in history by leading the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LII, earning MVP honors in the process. His playoff completion percentage of 68.1% remains an NFL record, showcasing his clutch performance under pressure.
Another standout from that draft was wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, taken at No. 92 by the Indianapolis Colts.
Hilton outpaced the Titans’ leading receiver, Nate Washington, as a rookie, racking up 861 yards. He would go on to surpass the 1,000-yard mark five times and led the league with 1,448 receiving yards in 2016.
Then there's cornerback Josh Norman, selected at No. 143 by the Carolina Panthers. Norman's 2015 season was nothing short of spectacular.
He earned first-team All-Pro honors, helped guide the Panthers to a 15-1 record, and made a Super Bowl appearance. His stats that year were a testament to his dominance: four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, along with 56 tackles, 19 passes defended, and three forced fumbles.
While Mike Martin contributed to the Titans during his stint, the 2012 draft remains a fascinating "what if" scenario for Tennessee fans. The potential stars they passed on have since become legends in their own right, leaving a lasting impact on the league.