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Taylor Lewan insists he's a left tackle after Titans select Jack Conklin

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Taylor Lewan doesn't think his role is in jeopardy after the Tennessee Titans selected fellow offensive tackle Jack Conklin with the eighth overall pick Thursday.

Lewan insisted he'll remain the Titans' left tackle, even though some believe Conklin will force him over to the right side.

Tennessee selected Lewan 11th overall in 2014, but he hasn't lived up to expectations two years into his professional career. Nonetheless, he believes he'll retain the left tackle job.

"To me, honestly, I never thought anything of it because I know I'm not a right tackle," Lewan said of Conklin's selection Saturday to Jason Wolf of The Tennessean. "I'm a left tackle. I knew I was the left tackle for this team and I knew once I had the opportunity to talk to (Titans general manager Jon) Robinson and Coach Mularkey that they would hear my piece and where I was from."

Although Lewan was territorial over his position, he provided Conklin with a vote of confidence. The 24-year-old played against Conklin's Michigan State teams when he starred for Michigan two years ago.

"I thought it was awesome," Lewan said of Conklin. "Obviously I played against him before in college, and he's exactly what Mularkey wants. He's a tough guy, he's going to play through the whistle and he's just going to be a hard-working guy who's there for the team. That's what it seems like, so I'm looking forward to working with him."

The Titans' offense is undergoing a rapid rebuild, accruing plenty of offensive talent during the offseason. Conklin and Lewan figure to be crucial parts of Tennessee's offensive line for the foreseeable future, but the battle for the team's left tackle spot is officially on.

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