Welcome to the weekly Tennessee Titans draft roundup for the 2022 NFL Draft. Over the course of the next several weeks, I’ll be releasing this column once a week with my very professional journalism opinions. You’ll find everything from rumors to wild speculation to actual analysis (sometimes). Titan up!
*We are at that point in the process when the news has gone kind of quiet, and we’re all ready for these players to just get drafted, ffs. Draft fatigue has set in, we’ve turned over every stone we’re going to (unless another gas mask bong photo drops on draft day), and the analysis paralysis is real. I’m tired of talking about offensive linemen vs. wide receivers, and whether or not the Titans should take the quarterback of the future. Can we just get through this fucking weekend?
*Alright…my last look at team needs as we sit here the day before the draft, and we’re all caught up on free agent additions. The two most pressing needs, and it ain’t sexy despite its truth, are at right tackle and left guard. If the Titans don’t take an offensive lineman with that first round selection, it means they truly believe that Dillon Radunz and Jamarco Jones can be the answer (with a little competition added later in the draft, of course) at those positions respectively. I don’t know if I’m willing to roll the dice on those guys just yet. They still need play-makers at wide receiver and tight end – more juice on offense. They now have a hole on the back end of the safety room, and they could look to add pass rush and cornerback depth earlier than folks are expecting.
*What the Jaguars do at #1 remains a mystery. There are rumors swirling that the owner, general manager, and head coach all want a different player at that spot between Ikem Ekwonu, Travon Walker, and Aidan Hutchinson. Personally, I’d go Kyle Hamilton, but I’m just a dickhead with a MacBook, so what do I know? This is as unpredictable an NFL Draft as I can remember, and the Jags will set the tone for what could be a wild Thursday night.
*Will Lomas wrote a great piece on players the Titans shouldn’t touch next week for Titan Sized. I cannot agree enough on Daniel Faalale and Cade Mays. I get why Mays is a fan favorite around here, having played for the University of Tennessee. But, both of these guys really struggle against pure speed, and while they are big ol’ boys, they aren’t as nimble as you’d like to see for a zone running scheme like the Titans deploy. Obviously, good coaches implement the system that best accentuates the skills of their players. But, I don’t see either of these guys as a natural fit for what exists in Tennessee at the moment.
*We learned that the Titans have met with Logan Hall and Myjai Sanders. Personally, I don’t see it with Hall. I watched him at the Senior Bowl and wondered why on Earth he was getting such fervent first round buzz that week. Sanders has some real pass rush chops, but has a bit of a lean frame that has some scouts concerned. I could see him being a late round selection that has an opportunity to come in and contribute in obvious pass rush situations….not a first rounder, though.
*Alright, let’s get to it – my final predictions for what the Titans do at #26 tomorrow night. I think that Zion Johnson or Kenyon Green is going to be the guy. The Titans are putting in work on the quarterback class, but ultimately, it’s just a smoke screen to try and make teams think they could go quarterback and in doing so, maybe they find a trade partner to move back and scooch back into the 2nd round in the process. I don’t know if they feel they need a receiver as strongly as we do. It ain’t sexy, but offensive line help is the pick (be ready for a surprise, too).
*As it stands, the Titans currently have seven picks in the 2022 NFL Draft:
- 1st round, 26th overall
- 3rd round, 90th overall
- 4th round, 131st overall
- 4th round, 143rd overall
- 5th round, 169th overall
- 6th round, 204th overall
- 6th round, 219th overall
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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, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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