The 2021 NFL Draft takes place April 29-May 1 this year, emanating LIVE from Cleveland, Ohio. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 22nd 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. Today, we’re lookin’ at Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore.
If you listened to the latest episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, Charles Barnes and I officially put the talk of DeVonta Smith and/or Jaylen Waddle slipping to the Titans at #22 to bed. It’s just not happening. But, the good news is that there’s still going to be a crop of talented play-makers there at #22 for the Titans to choose from, should they elect to go that route. I’ve written about Rashod Bateman and Kadarius Toney. Now, it’s time to shift gears and talk about another option – the well-rounded Elijah Moore.
The first thing that pops when you watch Moore is speed, speed, speed – his raw speed to get away from defenders and run right by them, the way he runs his routes at full speed, and his speed control. This dude can accelerate and decelerate at will. He is explosive, and will add a spark to any offense he ends up on. In his route-running, the crisp manner in which he breaks his routes is smooth as hell. He is gutsy in contested catches, and has elite competitiveness. He’s also a guy that, like Toney, you can use in a myriad of ways. He was primarily effective out of the slot at Ole Miss. But, I think he has potential anywhere on the field because of his speed and ability to separate and run strong routes.
The main criticisms of Moore have been his blocking skills, and his lack of physicality at the position. But, it’s all about what you need him to do and which offense he winds up in. I mean, no one’s going to draft this kid and say, “alright, Elijah, we’re going to put you right off the right tackle and we need you to level the OLB.” So, while yeah – you’d like to see him get a little more physical in his blocks downfield, and you don’t want him to be an outright liability in the run game, I’m not too concerned about it. As a coach, if I want electricity, I’m going to scheme you in a way that makes you more likely to be electric.
I’ve seen people hung up on the idea that the Titans need a 1:1 replacement for Corey Davis – a guy that will block well, play physical, and keep this Titans offense where it was at. But, that doesn’t matter to me. I just want play-makers. I want production, and I want electricity. I dare say, even if he is just playing out of the slot and on jet sweeps, Moore gives you that. You can build a more robust offensive playbook with a receiver like Moore. Ole Miss is turning into quite the wide receiver factory.
Further Reading: Bucky Brooks names Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore as a ‘first round sleeper’
2021 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
- Christian Barmore
- Rashod Bateman
- Zaven Collins
- Caleb Farley
- Jaycee Horn
- Teven Jenkins
- Greg Newsome
- Kadarius Toney
- Jaylen Waddle
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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