We’re two weeks removed from the 2022 NFL Draft, and I am still churning out draft content. I can’t help it – life is crazy right now, but I still have shit to say. Who cares that I’m late? That’s the perk of doing things on our own, our way. I feel like this is one of those situations in which no one’s really coming after me, but I feel defensive anyway. That’s the stress talking – allow me to pivot and just get into the meat of this article. My initial reaction to the drafting of Nicholas Petit-Frere was “eh, I get it.” I didn’t watch a lot of Petit-Frere leading up to the draft, and I knew I damn well should’ve after I saw that the Tennessee Titans had met with him. Lo and behold, they end up drafting him, and here we are. I finally had the chance to sit down and dive into all of the film I could find, some highlights, and a plethora of scouting reports to see what exactly the Titans got.
Let’s start with the weaknesses, because I’m a “bad news first” kind of guy. When you watch his tape, the major concern that leaps off of the film is his play strength that virtually every scout that has watched him has cited. It’s evident – he absolutely has to fill out his frame more and become stronger, or he’ll just get bullied by NFL defensive linemen and pass rushers. Go watch the Michigan game and take note of some of the reps David Ojabo had against him. He was stonewalled.
But, Petit-Frere was great in run-blocking and he has the athleticism to pull effectively in a zone-blocking scheme. His main calling card, to me, is his versatility, and you guys know that Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson were just salivating watching this guy and thinking of the myriad of ways in which they can deploy him. There is some work to do regarding his technique, and he has a long way to go in terms of his pass protection. But, it’s easy to see the vision behind this selection.
What does it tell us about how the Titans feel about their offensive line? Well, indications we’ve received from Vrabel press conferences this offseason suggest that free agent addition Jamarco Jones will get a stab at the left guard spot. One would assume that this is ‘put up or shut up’ time for Dillon Radunz at right tackle as well. But, both options still present their own sets of questions, and the selection of Petit-Frere could mean that the Titans want a talented player tailor made for their system waiting in the wings in the event all doesn’t go according to plan.
Petit-Frere played left tackle in 2021, but it was his 2020 run at right tackle that looks more relevant when considering the Titans current needs. But, with that in mind, it’s possible that Petit-Frere could also play left tackle in the future should they be considering moving on from Taylor Lewan in the coming seasons. That makes him a valuable chess piece for this coaching staff to play with. I’d be willing to bet that he’s going to start out in that swing tackle role the Titans love so much – the “sixth man,” if you will. And, they will attempt to groom him into the tackle of the future (right or left) in the meantime. Maybe they are content with what they have for 2022 and are willing to dedicate the time to turn Petit-Frere’s potential into production before he’s relied upon to be a starter. I’ll let James here handle the deeper Xs and Os break down on NPF, as he’s way more well-versed in it than my general observations provide y’all:
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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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