The 2020 NFL Draft is two weeks away, which means that The Game Haus will be doing draft profiles for every team. Each NFL team will be looked at heading into this year’s draft including what their needs are and who they could be targeting. The Tennessee Titans are the subject of today’s profile.
Arguably the most surprising team of the 2018-2019 season, the Titans are still riding high after reaching the AFC Championship Game.
They dethroned New England in what ended up being Tom Brady’s last game as a Patriot. They blew through the heavily favored NFL-best Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, the Titans then ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the eventual champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
But with their superstar running back returning, and the re-signing of the resurgent Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee has reason to believe they can reach even loftier goals in 2020.
The Titans’ best cornerback, Logan Ryan, is still unsigned at time of writing, but could return to the team. Their best offensive lineman, Jack Conklin, joined the Browns in free agency. Also lost was defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. They did, however, sign linebacker Vic Beasley from the Falcons, hoping he returns to his 2016 form.
The Titans have eight picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
First Round (one pick) – No. 29
Second Round (one pick) – No. 61
Third Round (one pick) – No. 93
Fourth Round (no picks)
Fifth Round (one pick) – No. 174
Sixth Round (no picks)
Seventh Round (two picks) – No. 224, No. 237, No. 243
Offensive Line – Jack Conklin is one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL. With his departure the Titans’ already weak offensive line got a little bit weaker. Tennessee should go after pass protection as soon as possible.
Cornerback – Logan Ryan’s contract is up, and even if he returns, bolstering their pass defense would not go amiss. After all, they do have to contend with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC.
Running back – After losing Dion Lewis, the Titans will need to find a different backup to their superstar back, Derrick Henry. A running back is not their biggest need, but Henry cannot play every single down.
First Round:
Pick No. 29: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Josh Jones is the ideal replacement for Jack Conklin in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has the same skill set, plays the same position and is ready to start right away for the Titans. The problem is, he could likely be gone by pick 29.
They may have to do some minor maneuvering upward to nab Jones, if they are committed to replacing Conklin with the best-possible option. Other choices here are USC’s Austin Jackson or Georgia’s Andrew Thomas. There may or may not be a run on lineman, but the Titans need the best available at this position. It is their only glaring need.
Second Round:
Pick No. 61: Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
This may be a bit of a reach at pick number 61. But, Tennessee lost their stalwart defensive lineman Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos. Davidson comes from a good culture at Auburn, and is familiar with both tough-nosed offenses and plenty of defensive schemes coming out of the SEC.
Davidson could be a great target for the Titans. (Photo by Joshua Fisher/The Auburn Plainsman)
Either way, they need to find some sort of replacement for Casey’s production. Jadaveon Clowney is still out there, and signing him would be the best possible outcome for a team that is only a few pieces away. But Clowney may demand a contract too rich for a team that still needs to sign Derrick Henry long-term. Davidson is a hole-filler at the defensive line position, but maybe not a plug-and-play piece.
Third Round:
Pick No. 93: Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Zack Moss is probably the best running back prospect to ever come out of the University of Utah. He is the all-time rushing yards leader for the Utes, but is not getting much attention as he plays in the Pac-12, which is a very pass-happy conference.
A bruiser much like Derrick Henry, a pairing of these two will wear defensive lines out quickly. Moss played all four years of his college career, so he is seasoned and ready to join an NFL roster. His maturity and nose for the end zone may just push the Titans over the top.
Featured Image courtesy of Tennessee Titans
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