The picks are in, and the 2021 NFL Draft is in the books. For the Tennessee Titans, it was primarily about plugging holes all over that atrocious defense from 2020. The Titans selected Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley in the first round, and cornerback Elijah Molden in the third. After completely blowing up the secondary (parting ways with Malcolm Butler, Adoree Jackson, Desmond King, AND Kenny Vaccaro), the Titans had to get some new blood in the defensive back field. Coverage was awful as a whole a season ago, as guys routinely allowed opposing receivers far too much room to operate, and the result was not ideal. Offenses had the freedom to seemingly move at will.
Part of that was the nonexistent pass rush, and the Titans had to do something to fortify it (or lack thereof) from a season ago. Even though they invested heavily in the front seven in free agency, the overhaul continued in the draft, selecting Monty Rice from Georgia in the third round, and getting an absolute steal in Rashad Weaver in the 4th round.
They plugged a couple of major holes on offense with the picks of offensive tackle Dillon Radunz, who should come in and compete right away for that starting right tackle spot, and wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, who they traded up the get. So, let’s break it down, Titan Nation.
Tennessee Titans Draft Recap (2021)
Round 1: CB Caleb Farley – I love the pick. It addresses their biggest need, and provides them with an instant, Week 1 starter. I’m not worried about the back issues at all. I have a source (my co-host Outspoken Owen), who recently had a similar surgery and said he has no doubt that this dude will be ready to go for the 2021 season. The injury concerns are the only real reason this guy slid to #22 anyway, but the Titans medical staff cleared him, and so they end up with a top 10 talent when healthy.
My only real criticism of Farley was with his overall polish at the position. I thought there were a couple of times (specifically in the Miami game) when better quarterbacking would have made more plays against Farley who put himself in poor positions to recover. But, we have to keep in mind that this kid played offense in high school. He’s only two years into playing corner. So, if he continues to progress and learn the position, he has the athletic traits to be CB1 for the Titans for a loooooooong time. I wrote about Farley in a lot more depth here.
Round 2: OT Dillon Radunz – I didn’t really think Radunz would be at play here in the 2nd round. There are questions about his athleticism and level of competition, but Radunz has the size and toughness to come in and compete for that starting right tackle spot against Kendall Lamm right away. A huge box to check off for the Titans offense.
Round 3: ILB Monty Rice – Buck Reising said it best: “head on a swivel, Rashaan Evans.” I’ll be honest, like a lot of other Titans writers, I don’t know too much about Rice. But, from what you read and watch, on the surface, Rice looks like a veritable clone of Evans. There’s no word on whether or not the Titans aim to pick up Evans’ 5th year option, so I would assume that this is the Titans bringing in a little competition to either push Evans or replace him beyond 2021.
Round 3: CB Elijah Molden – What an incredible value. So many people were pissed and/or confused by the Rice pick, but there’s no denying this one. Molden is a scrappy, heady, and versatile defensive back that is going to come in and push for playing time right away. This is the exact type of football character you want to build around.
Round 4: WR Dez Fitzpatrick – The Titans swapped 4th rounders, and gave up a 5th and a 7th to the Carolina Panthers to go up and draft Fitzpatrick. The Louisville product is a big, long receiver at 6’2″ and 208 pounds. He’s a physical player with a penchant for using that physicality to high-point the ball. That could make him useful as a deep-ball guy to complement A.J. Brown. To me, this looks like a direct 1:1 replacement of Corey Davis, as Fitzpatrick looks like the same style of wide receiver.
Round 4: EDGE Rashad Weaver – Another tremendous value, and a guy I really liked for the Titans from the jump. You want to overhaul that pass rush, you get the thoroughbred in Bud Dupree, you have the bendy guy in Harold Landry, now go get a guy to develop in the draft, and that’s exactly what the Titans did. Weaver is a producer, and while his first step might not be much a menace, this is a guy who has size, plays strong, and understands hand usage as a pass rusher. Another guy who comes in for depth, but could push for significant playing time.
Round 6: WR Racey McMath – This one might’ve been about special teams, as most believe that’s the best way McMath can contribute in the NFL right away. He has ideal size at 6’2″ and 211 pounds, but he is far from well-versed in the nuance of the receiver position. A raw prospect with a lot of speed, but there were a lot more polished receivers available on the board. I think we’re learning that Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is the big winner today.
Round 6: S Brady Breeze – Ah, yes – the obligatory late-round defensive back pick for the Titans. Breeze is savvy and instinctual safety that’ll hit hard. He has credentials as a former Rose Bowl Defensive MVP, but looks like another good special teamer. These last two picks are obviously about bolstering a special teams unit that we lose sight of how bad it was in 2020.
I love this class. I can’t say that I understand the Rice pick, but I understand the vision behind it. Farley and Radunz should earn starting jobs through training camp. Molden will push for time, much like Amani Hooker in 2020. Fitzpatrick has an opportunity to be an instant producer as well. And, they have guys in Rice and Weaver, who if they live up to their potential, could push for starting gigs on down the road.
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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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