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 Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean.
It was too good of a troll not to do it. I just had to. This is the last full report I’m doing specifically pertaining to the Titans, and I thought it would be the joke of the century to write about a linebacker here. Is it a waste of time? Probably, but that has never stopped me from doing half of the dumbass shit I’ve done on this website before. Just to be clear – I absolutely hate the idea of the Titans taking a linebacker in the first round. It is the quickest way to get me to roll my eyes at your mock. It is also the quickest way to let me know that you know nothing about the Titans. Just because the Titans lost Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans does not mean there’s an immediate need at inside linebacker. Some people seem to have forgotten that the Titans snagged Zach Cunningham late in the season, forgot that he played pretty well for the Titans despite what the analytics nerds would have you believe, and that the Titans re-signed him to a new deal. Plus, David Long Jr. had a breakout season in his own right. I think if you’re a Titans fan, you feel pretty good about that duo heading into the season. Not to mention, the Titans spent a third round pick on Monty Rice last season, and he played pretty well in spot duty as needed as a rookie. They’re fine. But, that doesn’t stop guys from mocking players like Dean to the Titans.
And, I hope this doesn’t come across as if I’m throwing shade at Dean, because he absolutely deserves to be a first round pick. This guy is a CHAMPION. He’s the reigning Butkus Award recipient, which goes to the best linebacker in college football every year. He was a unanimous All-American and First-Team All-SEC in 2021. He has an esteemed football pedigree.
Dean checks an awful lot of the boxes you look for in a franchise linebacker. He is an electric athlete with sideline-to-sideline range. He has the intangibles you look for in a linebacker – I know some have been critical of his play diagnosis, but he’s shown flashes of great instincts. Scouts say he lacks ideal size and length, but the tackle production is there. Will it translate to the NFL, where the bodies are bigger? That’s what some folks will weigh – I wouldn’t. This guy is a thoroughbred with a well-rounded, complete game. If he slides, it’s because of how good these offensive line and cornerback classes are…or, if teams start falling in love with receivers and quarterbacks. Dean is one of the safest prospects in this class.
Of course, now that we’ve all said ‘there’s no way the Titans draft a linebacker in the first round‘ for the last four months, the Titans will inevitably draft an inside linebacker in the first round. If it’s Dean, they could very well get the best linebacker in the draft class. How mad are you guys going to be?
Further Reading: Nakobe Dean: Georgia’s ultimate achiever looks to NFL Draft as next big career climb
2022 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
- Treylon Burks
- Jahan Dotson
- Kenyon Green
- Zion Johnson
- Darian Kinnard
- Tyler Linderbaum
- Drake London
- Roger McCreary
- Trey McBride
- Chris Olave
- Trevor Penning
- Desmond Ridder
- Tyler Smith
- 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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