Welcome to day five of TGH Draftmas. Coming up today we have the Tennessee Titans.
2016 was a year of nearly’s for the team out of Tennessee. Missing out on the playoffs because of a poor divisional record will have left a sour taste in the mouths of Titans fans. Tennessee ranked 30th in pass defense last year, which is simply not good enough for a team with playoff aspirations.
Logan Ryan during his time at the Patriots. Courtesy of the bostonherald.com
As a result, the Titans have begun to strengthen the defensive backfield during the free agency period. Adding cornerback Logan Ryan from the Patriots and safety Johnathan Cyprien from the Jaguars, have shown an intent to rectify the defensive issues. However, it is still a need that will likely be addressed in the draft.
In addition to Ryan and Cyprien, the Titans have brought in another five players so far during free agency. Other notable pickups include Super Bowl winner Sylvester Williams at nose tackle. The Titans have put a lot of emphasis on defensive and special teams pickups, which could lead to them addressing some of the more pressing offensive needs over the course of the draft.
Tennessee has eight picks in this draft, including two in the first round. This is a perfect chance for them to pick two solid starters that can push them into the playoffs in 2017.
First Round:(2) No.5, No.18
Second Round: No picks.
Third Round:(2) No.83, No.100
Fourth Round:(1) No.124
Fifth Round:(1) No.164
Sixth Round:(1) No.214
Seventh Round:(1) No.236
With four picks in the first three rounds, the Titans have an excellent opportunity to add some much-needed depth all over the field. Tennessee’s activity throughout free agency leans towards an offense-minded draft.
With this in mind, these are some of the biggest needs in no particular are.
Offense
Wide Receiver – A No.1 receiver to pair with Marcus Mariota is a must in this draft.
Interior Offensive Lineman
Defense
Safety
Cornerback
Defensive Tackle
As with all the other Draftmas profiles, we will take a look at the first three rounds and there will be no trades.
Pick #5: Marhson Lattimore CB, Ohio State
Image courtesy of bleacherreport.com
If Lattimore is still available, Tennessee will surely take him. In a stacked class for cornerbacks, Lattimore is certainly one of the best. Last year he recorded 41 tackles, four interceptions and nine passes broken up. With these figures, Lattimore would be a welcome addition to a defense that struggled against the passing game in 2016. If Lattimore goes early, as some predict, Tennessee will likely look to secure either Jamal Adams or Marlon Humphrey.
Pick #18: John Ross WR, Washington
Tennessee have two major needs early in the draft one is depth in the backfield, the other is a strong No.1 receiver and John Ross will provide that. In Marcus Mariota, Tennessee have a strong quarterback who managed to rack up over 3000 passing yards without a standout receiver. Ross has blistering pace, which he showed off at the combine, he is agile and will be perfect as a mismatch receiver.
Pick #83: Adam Shaheen TE, Ashland
Tennessee ran more two tight end sets than anyone in the league during 2016, however they have lost Anthony Fasano in free agency. At 6-6, 278 pounds Shaheen is a freakish athlete. Combine him with Delanie Walker and they could be a pair to be reckoned with. Also with just sheer size, he will likely create mismatches with most defenses.
Pick #100: Duke Riley LB, LSU
At linebacker the Titans have two strong starters, beyond that they do not have much else. Riley will provide them with the depth they require. Finishing 2016 with 93 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 12 games, Riley looks to be a good option to give the Titans some much needed depth in the linebacker position.
The 2017 draft will be a chance for the Titans to pick up some real talent with four picks in the first three rounds. Falling short in 2017 will not be an option and some strong draft picks will show a signal of intent to the rest of the league.
Thank you for joining us on our fifth day of TGH Draftmas! Check back tomorrow where we will be bringing you the Draft Profile of the New York Jets
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