The 2022 NFL Draft takes place April 28-30 this year, emanating LIVE from Las Vegas, Nevada. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 26th overall selection. Over the next few months, your boy “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley will be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to, have met with, or who make sense for the Titans. Today, we’re lookin’ at Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith.
I know what you’re thinking. “Another offensive lineman? Really, Stoney?” Well….yeah…as it stands right now, and of course opinions can change pretty fluidly, I happen to think that if the Titans can’t get the quarterback they want in the first round, they’ll go offensive line. And, listen – I was all set to roll with the linemen I’d already written about. But, then – news broke that the Titans sent some pretty high-ranking and important members of their brain trust to the Tulsa Pro Day to watch and scout Smith. So, now here we are. I’m back, talkin’ offensive line yet again.
Smith checks a lot of the physical boxes you look for in a cornerstone tackle – he’s big, he’s strong, he’s powerful, and he plays an angry style of football. He is a finisher that wants to put people in the dirt. Once he gets his feet set and can drive forward, you’re cooked. Smith is known for his run-blocking ability, but he does show some capability in anchoring and stalling defensive linemen around the outside. It’s easy to see why a staff that has faith in their ability to teach technique would be so high on Smith.
But, man – let’s talk about that technique. His hand usage is downright baffling at times. He tends to get beat in the hand battle and defaults to just wrapping his arms around dudes. Poor hand placement can give up leverage, and all of this can lead to penalties galore. His footwork is inconsistent in kicking out, and his pad level can be too high. There’s a reason he’s a fringe first-rounder, and that’s because he’s a bit of a project. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Maybe. If you can fix his technique, this guy has the physical traits to be an All-Pro.
I’ve seen some murmurs on Titans Twitter of Smith maybe taking that right tackle spot that seems to be up for grabs right now, but I don’t see it. He played left tackle at Tulsa, and I’m not sure how much time he’s spent on the right side in his career. He looks like a left tackle, and if you’re the Titans, I don’t know that you’re going to take Taylor Lewan‘s heir apparent in the first round. Maybe they can move him to left guard because of his run blocking ability. But, I don’t know – I like as close as I can get to a sure thing in the first round, and I don’t think that’s Smith. What if they were at the Tulsa pro day to scout his teammate, Chris Paul, for that right tackle spot??? The world may never know.
Further Reading: He started out in Fort Worth peewee football. Now Tyler Smith is an NFL draft prospect
2022 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
- Treylon Burks
- Jahan Dotson
- Kenyon Green
- Zion Johnson
- Tyler Linderbaum
- Roger McCreary
- Trey McBride
- Chris Olave
- Trevor Penning
- Desmond Ridder
- Jalen Tolbert
- Jameson Williams
- Jalen Wydermyer
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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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