The 2019 NFL Draft takes place April 25-27 this year, emanating LIVE from right here in Nashville, Tennessee. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 19th overall selection. Over the next few weeks, your boy “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley will be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to or who make sense for the Titans.
We’ve pretty well established that the Titans need help at pass rush. That’s not exactly going to be a revelation to anyone reading this as we sit here just days before the NFL Draft. But, there is an interesting prospect I haven’t written about yet: Florida State’s Brian Burns.
Burns doesn’t come to the NFL as a highly decorated prospect. He was first-team All-ACC in 2018, but that’s it. He did lead all freshmen in sacks with 9.5 in 2016. Burns averaged 7.6 sacks per season across his three-year career at Florida State, but 2018 was by far his best. He recorded 53 tackles, 10 sacks, three passes deflected, and three forced fumbles.
The guy’s just a flat out natural pass rusher. He has great length as an edge rusher, with elite athleticism and twitch. Burns is a fluid athlete who can pursue opposing players and can cut in any direction. The big knock on Burns is his size – he’s thin and that lends scouts to think he’s going to be overpowered in the NFL. He’ll need to shed blocks better in the NFL as well.
There’s a ton of potential in Burns, and rushing the passer is a valuable skill in the NFL. It’s one the Titans don’t have an abundance of. So, it makes sense for Burns to be the guy – there are just some legitimate questions about his frame and ability to bulk up and carry extra weight with the same athleticism he currently possesses.
Further Reading: Here’s a collection of fun facts about Burns.
2019 TENNESSEE TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
Clelin Ferrell
Cody Ford
T.J. Hockenson
Montez Sweat
Christian Wilkins
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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