NFL mock draft, needs: Titans
Evan Silva (@EvanSilva) is the Senior Football Editor for Rotoworld's NFL Page, and Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) leads Rotoworld's college football and NFL draft coverage. Together, they're breaking down every team's biggest needs and offering potential draft-day solutions.
For a breakdown on every team, check out the team-by-team draft preview schedule.
No. 1 Team Need: General Manager
Silva's Analysis
Ruston Webster is the worst GM in all the NFL.
No. 2 Team Need: Quarterback
Silva's Analysis
Zach Mettenberger showed some promising traits as a rookie. He is firm in the pocket and willing to pull the trigger on difficult throws. He is also painfully short on athleticism and an erratic passer. The Titans' front office could buy itself another year by using the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback. They could play Mettenberger in 2015, and trade one if the other hits. Either way, the mere fact that Mettenberger "flashed" in year one should in no way prevent the Titans from continuing to invest at quarterback. Mettenberger was a sixth-round pick and has numerous deficiencies, and ultimately the odds are against him being Tennessee's long-term answer under center.
No. 3 Team Need: Running back
Silva's Analysis
Regardless of whether the Titans rest on their laurels with Mettenberger, they're going to be playing a young quarterback. In order to support that young quarterback in his development, the Titans need a way to sustain offense and create manageable down-and-distance situations. A soft runner without chain-moving capability, 2014 second-round pick Bishop Sankey is best suited to a change-up role. Holdover passing-down back Dexter McCluster is an ineffective gadget guy, while soon-to-be 30-year-old Shonn Greene's strength is plodding. Tennessee needs a big-time bellcow runner to make effective use of an offensive line in which the Titans have invested two first-round picks (LT Taylor Lewan, RG Chance Warmack) and a $46.8 million contract (LG Andy Levitre). The Titans have very few valuable assets. They need to stop letting the few assets they do have go to waste.
No. 4 Team Need: Right tackle
Silva's Analysis
Before free agency, Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean appeared on Andy Benoit's MMQB Podcast and was asked to name the Titans' needs. He literally named every position on the roster. In addition to quarterback, running back and right tackle, defensive line and wide receiver are question-mark spots. I'm going with right tackle here because it would appear to be the Titans' most-glaring need. 2014 signing Michael Oher was a predictable free-agent flop, and Lewan's move to the blind side creates a hole on the other side. The 2015 Titans will need to be able to run the football to stay competitive in games. Therefore, they could really use a road-grading mauler at right tackle capable of opening up running lanes.
Norris’ Mock Draft
Round 1 (2): QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon - I don’t see how Ken Whisenhunt and Co. can stick with a sixth-round quarterback who is confined to the pocket, with a slow process and has finished the last two seasons injured. Teams are rarely in a position to select a quarterback prospect of Mariota’s caliber. He has foundation traits that can succeed in a number of offenses. If the Titans do stick with Mettenberger, win five or six games in 2015, will they be in position to select a passer next season? In a possible make or break year? I do think the Chargers link has some legs, even it does not end up happening. Take Mariota.
Round 2 (33): T T.J. Clemmings, Pitt - Evan asked for a mauling right tackle, and Clemmings is just that. Do not expect him to start right away unless teams are comfortable with the high number of negative snaps he will give early on. Clemmings does not trust his feet to get and stay in position. That means he is giving up edge pressure and then inside lines once compensating for the outside lane. I don’t see a team selecting Clemmings in the first despite what is commonly projected.
Round 3 (66): RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama - Yeldon could be selected as early as the second running back off the board. He is smooth, aggressive and falls forward on contact. I could not use many of those words to describe Bishop Sankey.
Round 4 (100): EDGE Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville -Mauldin is not a special pass rusher. He is adequate at best in that area. I am not naive enough to think everyone shares my opinion of Mauldin, as other could see Mauldin as a serviceable starter. He might fit best as a drop EDGE in an odd man front.
Round 5 (138): WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska - Bell was slated to appear at the East West Shrine game but did not attend. If he did, I bet more would be written about him. Bell is very athletic and fluid, flashing each quality downfield on contested catches.
Round 6 (176): OL Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M - Harrison’s talent warrants a much earlier selection, which is absolutely possible. Anonymous scouts have pointed out Harrison’s “heart might not be in” the game. Gil Brandt noted Harrison even showed up late to his pro day. He is the ultimate utility lineman.
Round 6 (207): S Detrick Bonner, Virginia Tech - Bonner has played a number of spots in the defensive backfield: corner, slot, strong and free safety. Sixth and seventh-round selections are mostly treated as priority free agents that a selecting team has exclusive rights to.
Titans Current Offensive Depth Chart
QB: Zach Mettenberger
RB: Bishop Sankey
WR: Kendall Wright
WR: Justin Hunter
WR: Harry Douglas
TE: Delanie Walker
LT: Taylor Lewan
LG: Andy Levitre
C: Brian Schwenke
RG: Chance Warmack
RT: Byron Stingily
Titans Current Defensive Depth Chart
LE: Ropati Pitoitua
RE: Jurrell Casey
NT: Sammie Lee Hill
OLB: Brian Orakpo
OLB: Derrick Morgan
ILB: Avery Williamson
ILB: Zach Brown
CB: Jason McCourty
CB: Perrish Cox
FS: Michael Griffin
SS: Da'Norris Searcy