We continue on in our 2018 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, as we’re now into the final quarter of Round 1. Let’s review how the last five picks have gone.
20. Detroit Lions - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo Bills) - Connor Williams, OT, Texas
22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs) - Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
23. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Rams) - Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
24. Carolina Panthers - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Now, we’re on to teams that lost in the divisional round of this year’s NFL playoffs, so we start with the Tennessee Titans with the 25th overall pick. They scored an impressive comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs on wild card weekend before getting flattened by New England the next week. Let’s take a look at what they’ve done and what they need.
Tennessee Titans
2017 record: 9-7 (2nd place, AFC South)
Offseason acquisitions
CB Malcolm Butler (free agent signing), WR Michael Campanaro (free agent signing), LB Will Compton (free agent signing), QB Blaine Gabbert (free agent signing), DE DaQuan Jones (free agent signing), G Josh Kline (free agent signing), RB Dion Lewis (free agent signing), DL Bennie Logan (free agent signing), G Kevin Pamphile (free agent signing), G Xavier Su’a-Filo (free agent signing)
Offseason losses
QB Matt Cassel (signed with Detroit), DT Karl Klug (released), RB DeMarco Murray (released), S Da’Norris Searcy (signed with Carolina), WR Eric Weems (released), DT Sylvester Williams (signed with Detroit), LB Avery Williamson (signed with New York Jets)
Team needs
Edge defender - Both of the outside linebackers in the Titans’ 3-4, Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, are over age 30, and they’re likely going to start slowing down here sometime soon. The Titans need to start looking to the future at the position.
Inside linebacker - Avery Williamson has left for the New York Jets, so the Titans could look to someone to team with Wesley Woodyard on the inside. . .preferably someone that can cover opposing running backs, an area where both Williamson and Woodyard were sorely lacking last season.
Interior offensive line - While the tackle spots are set with Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin (for the long term, I mean, as Conklin might have to start 2018 on PUP), the interior of the line provides much less inspiration. Neither center Ben Jones nor guard Josh Kline were anything special, and the Titans could easily upgrade at either spot.
Wide receiver - A late-season surge from rookie Corey Davis helped him a little but, but the Titans went without having a wide receiver reach the 800-yard plateau for the fourth straight year. Vikings fans can remember what that’s like, can’t we? Marcus Mariota needs targets in a bad way.
Options
Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio - Rather than repeating the same thing about Davenport, I’ll just say that the fact that he’s still available is ridiculous. Seriously. Pretty much any complaining about the availability of certain players is more than negated by Davenport being available at the 25th overall pick.
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama - Evans is likely to be better served playing in a 3-4 than he would be in a 4-3, so he’s a player that could make sense for the Titans here. He’s not an elite athlete, but having been one of the leaders of the Crimson Tide’s defense, he’s certainly developed into an outstanding football player that might be the best tackling linebacker in this year’s class.
Will Hernandez, G, Texas-El Paso - If the Titans want to go with more of a pure guard for their offensive line issues, this is a guy that makes a lot of sense. Hernandez is a mauler, and would be a very solid fit in the run-first offensive style that the Titans employ.
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M - We said that Mariota needs targets, and Kirk is the top wide receiver left at this point in the proceedings. Though he’s mostly projected to be a slot guy as things stand right now, the Titans need help at the position wherever they can find it.
Billy Price, C, Ohio State - The Titans have a potential need at both center and guard, and Price could fill either spot. The Rimington Award winner as college football’s best center last season. . .have I mentioned that he was the best center in college football last season? Because he was. With his recovery from a pectoral injury not expected to affect his readiness for camp, he’d be a decent pick for the Titans.
We head back to the NFC tomorrow, as the Atlanta Falcons will be on the clock at #26 overall.
Poll
With the twenty-fifth pick in the 2018 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans (should) select ____________
This poll is closed
-
54%
Marcus Davenport, DE, UT-SA
-
19%
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
-
12%
Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
-
8%
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
-
5%
Billy Price, C, Ohio State