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.
The Titans need help pressuring quarterbacks, plain and simple. Whether that comes from outside linebacker, inside linebacker, defensive end, or nose tackle. It doesn’t matter – they have to get better at making quarterbacks uncomfortable. The season-ending injury sustained by Jurrell Casey exposed a lack of depth along the defensive line (I’m sorry, but DaQuan Jones did NOT have the season expected of him). So, the Titans could look to add another big time play-maker into the rotation.
Christian Wilkins certainly fits the bill. He enters the NFL Draft with an accomplished college career. In 2018, the former Clemson defensive tackle was a first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC. He also has a handful of second and third team honors from previous years at Clemson.
But, it’s his character and personality that make him such a stand-up dude. Wilkins is the quintessential locker room leader type. His work in his community earned him the William V. Campbell Trophy last season, and his big time personality has been garnering rave reviews from scouts everywhere.
He is as athletic as they come for a defensive tackle, with demonstrated agility, flexibility, and speed. Wilkins has experience at tackle and at end, which makes him a dynamic prospect and would potentially give the Titans a plethora of ways to utilize his abilities.
The biggest knock against him is a perceived lack of elite strength. He’s not the prototypical mauler type. Plus, he’s an ideal fit in a 4-3 – does that mean he can’t play in the Titans’ 3-4? No, but scheme is important in evaluating a talent.
Wilkins is an effective interior rusher, not so different from Casey. The Titans need pass rush help, regardless of where it comes from. As long as Wilkins isn’t expected to be a stopgap run defender who bullies around offensive linemen, he can fit with the Titans. If he were the pick at #19, I’d be just fine with that.
Courtesy of Voch Lombardi, who always delivers quality film sessions (support the man):
Further Reading: A pretty fun read on Wilkins’ rise up NFL Draft boards over on Rubbing the Rock.
2019 TENNESSEE TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
Clelin Ferrell
Cody Ford
T.J. Hockenson
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
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