Titans address offense in Pro Football Focus’ latest mock draft
So far this offseason, we’ve seen mock drafts mostly peg edge rushers to the Tennessee Titans with the exception of one that had the team selecting a cornerback in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Now, for the first time in any mock drafts we’ve covered, there’s one that has the Titans going with a wide receiver at No. 22 overall.
The mock comes from Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner, who sees the Titans taking Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore in the first round.
Before we get to why this does or doesn’t make sense, here’s what Renner had to say about the selection:
With Corey Davis likely out the door, the Titans won’t have a quality No. 2 alongside A.J. Brown. If defenses aren’t forced to respect any other receiving option, it’s going to severely limit the Titans’ downfield passing offense. Moore has the explosiveness to threaten downfield early in his career and is tough over the middle of the field — he went 9-of-11 in contested situations last year.
Clearly Renner is basing his decision on Davis not returning, so there is some logic here. Still, with so many needs on defense, we’d expect the Titans to prioritize that side of the ball first, even if the former No. 5 overall pick leaves.
As we’ve seen in the past, the Titans can still find an impact player at wide receiver in the second round or later (see: A.J. Brown) and free agency is a better option to fill the No. 2 receiver role seeing as how the team needs an immediate impact that rookies don’t always provide.
Now, that’s not to say that Moore isn’t an intriguing prospect who grabs our attention, although we’re not sure he’s worthy of being taken at No. 22 overall.
A former teammate of A.J. Brown, Moore totaled 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in eight games in 2020, and he brings some speed and explosiveness with him to the next level.
The down side is that Moore (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) lacks the size that Davis brings to the table, and he profiles as more of a slot receiver than anything else.
Granted, Tennessee might need a replacement there if Adam Humphries gets cut and Moore could also fill the team’s need for a deep threat, but those aren’t things the Titans should be addressing in the first round of the draft.
