Titans Dont Pick Again Till 5th Round
The Tennessee Titans have two top-100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, fewer than they've had each of the last three years.
Can the Titans acquire multiple high-impact prospects to improve their chances of reaching the Super Bowl?
Here's The Tennessean's fourth and final seven-round mock draft for the Titans, assuming they stay put at No. 26 in the first round:
Round 1, No. 26 overall: Kenyon Green, guard, Texas A&M
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 323 pounds
2021 stats (12 games): starts at left guard (7), right guard (2), right tackle (2) and left tackle (1)
Green would project as the Titans' Day 1 starting left guard in the wake of Rodger Saffold's release earlier this offseason.
Green played in 35 straight games for Texas A&M before skipping its bowl game last season, so he's been consistently available. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein says Green, a three-year starter for the Aggies, could become a good NFL starter "very quickly" because of the dominance he flashes in run blocking. That makes him an ideal fit with the Titans.
ESTES:What I'm hoping Tennessee Titans do – and don't do – in first round of NFL Draft
A former five-star recruit, Green would also give Tennessee an offensive lineman with elite versatility. He started games at four spots in his college career (both guard and tackle spots). According to The Athletic, Green in 2021 was the only NCAA player with 80-plus snaps at four different offensive line positions.
In addition to shoring up the guard spot, Green would give the Titans depth at right tackle, the other hole on the offensive line. But his presence would allow 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz to focus primarily on offensive tackle, the position he was drafted to play.
Round 3, No. 90 overall: Khalil Shakir, wide receiver, Boise State
Measurables: 6-0, 196 pounds
2021 stats (12 games): 77 receptions, 1,117 yards, 7 TDs
At the Titans' pre-draft press conference last week, coach Mike Vrabel explained that physicality, play strength, versatility to play inside and returning punts are among the many characteristics Tennessee evaluates in potential receivers for the team.
Shakir checks many of those boxes.
2022 NFL DRAFT:Tennessee Titans' first pick in 2022 NFL Draft boils down to these 3 scenarios
He "relishes" contact and playing through it, as one NFL.com analysis stated, and his polished route-running skills coupled with a knack for body control allows him to make difficult catches. A two-time first-team selection in the Mountain West, Shakir also played the slot at Boise State and returned punts for the Broncos.
The Titans must draft high at receiver, with depth lacking behind star A.J. Brown and offseason acquisition Robert Woods, who tore his ACL in November.
Trade!
The Titans grab a second third-round pick, dealing two fourth-round selections – Nos. 131 and 143 (compensatory) – to the New Orleans Saints for No. 98 overall.
Round 3, No. 98 overall (via New Orleans Saints): Nicholas Petit-Frere, offensive tackle, Ohio State
Measurables: 6-5, 316 pounds
2021 stats (12 games): 12 starts at left tackle
Petit-Frere started games at left and right tackle at Ohio State, so he could be a swing tackle option for the Titans. Tennessee's right tackle competition is wide open. Left tackle Taylor Lewan hasn't played a full season since 2017.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, Petit-Frere will have to prove he can regularly hold his own against NFL pass rushers. Fourteen of his 26 pressures allowed last season came against Michigan and Penn State, both of which featured early round edge rushers (Michigan's Aidan Hutchison, the projected No. 1 pick, and David Ojabo, and Penn State's Arnold Ebiketie), according to Pro Football Focus.
Trade!
The Titans slide back into the bottom of the fourth round, sending pick 169 (fifth round) and a 2023 fifth-rounder to the Rams for No. 142 overall.
NEW STADIUM TALKS:Tennessee Titans 'very grateful' for state funding; lots more to do to get a new home
Round 4, No. 142 overall (via Los Angeles Rams): Alontae Taylor, cornerback, Tennessee
Measurables: 6-0, 199 pounds.
2021 stats (12 games): 60 tackles (1 for loss), 1 forced fumble, 8 pass-breakups, 2 interceptions
Taylor, a Manchester native, would give the Titans value on special teams, where he was a mainstay for the Vols. As a freshman, he blocked a kick and a punt. He played 462 special teams snaps for Tennessee, per The Athletic. He projects to be a strong gunner at the NFL level.
As a four-year starter in the SEC, Taylor figures to provide competitive depth at cornerback. Caleb Farley, last year's first-round pick, is expected to start, but he hasn't played a full season since 2018, when he was a redshirt freshman at Virginia Tech. The Titans would benefit from investing a middle-round pick on an outside cornerback.
Round 6, No. 204 overall: Austin Allen, tight end, Nebraska
Measurables: 6-8, 253 pounds
2021 stats (12 games): 38 receptions, 602 yards, 2 TDs
Allen is a massive tight end with intriguing pass-catching upside. He broke several tight end records at Nebraska last season, including most single-game receiving yards, receptions in a season, receiving yards in a season and 100-yard receiving games in a season.
The reigning Big Ten tight end of the year, Allen has shown a willingness to block, according to draft evaluators, which would appeal to the Titans.
Allen's profile suggests he has the potential to be a versatile No. 1 tight end down the line. In Tennessee, he could learn the ropes from Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim.
Round 6, No. 219 overall (compensatory): Esezi Otomewo, edge, Minnesota
Measurables: 6-5, 282 pounds.
2021 stats (13 games): 30 tackles (4.5 for loss), 3 sacks
Edge rusher is one of the strongest positions on the Titans' roster, but it would not be surprising to see Tennessee select one at some point. Robinson has praised the depth at the spot in this year's draft class a couple times. 2021 fourth-round pick Rashad Weaver also suffered a season-ending leg injury as a rookie.
Otomewo is a raw prospect – he never had more than three sacks and five tackles for loss in a single season – but he has plus athletic traits and has the versatility to slide inside to three-tech in passing situations. He had two sacks against West Virginia in Minnesota's bowl game last season.
Otomewo had a top-30 visit with the Titans last week.
Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.
Source: https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2022/04/27/tennessee-titans-mock-draft-2022-seven-round-maximize-trades/7413308001/
0 Response to "Titans Dont Pick Again Till 5th Round"
Post a Comment