The 2017 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 this year, and as it stands, the Tennessee Titans have two first round draft picks. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Mularkey currently hold the 5th overall selection and the 18th overall selection. Over the next few weeks, your boy Big Natural will be taking a look at some of the prospects rumored to be tied to or make sense for the Titans.
We’re only a week out from the NFL Draft. With the recent release of long-time Titans cornerback, Jason McCourty, the talk of the team being desperate for help in the secondary keeps ramping up. But, I’m still not buying that the team is tied to any given position in this year’s draft. Robinson is going to be in full-on wheelin’ and dealin’ mode, so the Titans may not pick in the top 10 at all.
Lest we forget, the Titans don’t exactly have a lot of pass rush depth. Does that make it an immediate need? No. Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo proved to be a dynamic duo last year. As a whole the Titans defense recorded 40 sacks, good for 6th in the NFL. But, they only forced four fumbles, good for 32nd in the NFL.
There’s work to do. One would think 2016’s 2nd round pick, Kevin Dodd, being healthy would bolster the pass rush. The truth is that we just don’t know. Dodd hasn’t done anything yet to make anyone believe he’s the player they drafted him to be.
Should the Titans get to pick #18 with Derek Barnett still on the board, they’d be hard-pressed not to take the former Tennessee Volunteer. It doesn’t seem like it’s in Robinson’s blood to reach for a player. So, why not take the best player available? Some have argued that Barnett is the best pure pass rusher in this year’s draft.
He’s really a throwback, old school type of player. Barnett battles offensive linemen and wins with his hands. Explosive athleticism is not a strong trait of Barnett’s, but his technique is refined enough to make up for that. He’s strong – football instincts are exceptional, and he’s had one productive career. Flat out, he’s simply the prototype for a natural pass rusher.
The major question surrounding Barnett is his ability to run block. If a team runs right him, he is liable to soften up by the 4th quarter against NFL talent. But, should he land somewhere like Tennessee, where he’d be the third pass rusher at best, that might not be too big of a deal.
He’s definitely worth considering if the Titans are in a position to either reach for a need or just draft the best player available.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zwKJuOpQ4Q]
Mind you, that’s the projected top left tackle in this year’s draft class, Cam Robinson, that Barnett blows up in the first play of that video.
Catch up on previous first round option reports:
Jamal Adams
Jonathan Allen
Corey Davis
Reuben Foster
OJ Howard
Marshon Lattimore
Mike Williams
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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