The 2019 NFL Draft takes place April 25-27 this year, emanating LIVE from right here in Nashville, Tennessee. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 19th overall selection. Over the next few weeks, your boy “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley will be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to or who make sense for the Titans.
Whether or not the Titans should draft a tight end in the first round this year has been a hotly contested debate this offseason. The national media seems to think that Delanie Walker is cooked and the Titans have nothing behind him. Personally, I don’t think the Titans should spend #19 on a tight end. But, I’m not going to debate that this offense needs a play-maker and a mismatch guy – they do. Former Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson could be that guy.
Iowa has a strong lineage of tight ends in the NFL, and it appears Hockenson is poised to continue that trend. He’s the reigning John Mackey Award recipient, given annually to college football’s top tight end. He was also voted Big Ten tight end of the year, and first team All Big Ten in 2018.
We’re not talking about a good tight end prospect here, folks. We’re talking about one of the elite overall prospects in this year’s draft. I’ve seen some analysts place Hockenson as high as #5 on their overall big board. He’s been compared to Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce – that’s a hell of an evaluation. Hockenson figures to be a day one impact guy.
He’s an athletic tight end that can run crisp routes, accelerate, and has an elite catch radius. On top of that, he’s an elite blocker with good hands and finishing ability. Hockenson plain and simply doesn’t have a whole lot of documented weaknesses. He’s put some awkward timing on film, and could stand to put a little more bulk on his athletic frame.
Hockenson is the type of guy who’s going to be a good fit on any team that drafts him because he’s simply that talented. I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that he’s still available at #19, or his Iowa teammate Noah Fant for that matter. But, he’s been mocked to the Titans on numerous occasions – hence the reason I’m covering him in this series.
If the Titans were to look at an offensive weapon in the first round, I’d rather them go with someone like Hockenson or Fant than any of the wide receivers in this draft. I just don’t think they have that luxury given the need for pass rush help and potentially a starting right guard.
Courtesy of Voch Lombardi, who always delivers quality film sessions (support the man):
Further reading: A look at how Iowa’s two projected first round tight ends could take their competition to the NFL.
2019 TENNESSEE TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
Clelin Ferrell
Cody Ford
Montez Sweat
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.