Tennessee Titans: How About Kevin White In The First Round?
By Les Bailey
Tennessee Titans head coach, Ken Whisenhunt and General Manager, Ruston Webster have only one job to do on April 30th. If it doesn’t include taking Oregon quarterback, Marcus Mariota with the second pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, they need to trade down.
As much as I would love to see USC Defensive End, Leonard Williams in a Titan’s uniform this fall, taking him at number two would be giving up on the spot the Titans had to go 2-14 to get. If it’s not Marcus Mariota, then they have to maximize their position with a trade.
NFL.com reported on Thursday that West Virginia wide receiver, Kevin White would be visiting the Tennessee Titans soon, and many were wondering why the Titans would be wanting to look at a receiver who for all practical purposes, will be drafted somewhere in the top ten.
It’s pretty simple if you think about it. If the Titans make a deal with another team inside the top ten, they will need to change the strategy we think they should have in place, and be ready to make a different selection at a position where Leonard Williams will not be available.
NFL.com reporter and College Football 27/7 writer, Bryan Fischer had this to say about White’s potential visit to Music City.
"“He now has one visit scheduled,” NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft” Thursday. “He does have one scheduled with the Tennessee Titans, but that is it.”That nugget of information only adds to the intrigue about what the Titans will do with the No. 2 overall pick. While the team has been most closely associated with USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota at No. 2, the news of White’s scheduled visit puts him into the mix as a player Tennessee could consider with the pick."
With three or four possible suitors who would be drafting in the first ten picks, looking at an outside threat like the West Virginia standout is not out of the question for the Titans, especially if they were to gain multiple picks in the later rounds.
Suitors within the Top Ten
You have to think that the first deal will come from the New York Jets with the 6th pick, but I don’t rule out the Washington Redskins as a possible trade at number five. Head Coach, Jay Gruden is saying all the right things about his young quarterback, but if the right deal were there, I wouldn’t count them out of a trade.
Everyone knows Jay Gruden is “old school” like Ken Whisenhunt, and wants a traditional pocket quarterback, but then there’s Chip Kelly with three quarterbacks, and a healthy desire to get Marcus Mariota and could be looking for a block buster deal that lands his franchise quarterback.
The New York Jets have spent the lion’s share of free agency building a team that can compete in the AFC East, but they need a quarterback to make the off-season complete.
Marcus Mariota is not really Todd Bowles’ cup of tea, but with Offensive Coordinator, Chan Gailey on his staff, the Jets may be willing to pull the trigger on this kind of deal.
With a possible move to Los Angeles as early as 2016, former Titans skipper, Jeff Fischer may be looking to a deal that would take the Pac 12 standout back to the West Coast, and if anything, help sell tickets in Englewood.
The St Louis Rams have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and now need to turn their attention to scoring touchdowns. A return to Southern California with Marcus Mariota in tow could be huge for the Rams, and in a couple of years, be able to compete with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.
Last, but not Least!
The New York Giants have the ninth pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and Eli Manning is in the final year of his contract. Let’s think about this….just food for thought!
Payton Manning is obviously making one last effort to win a Super Bowl in Denver, and his name has been linked to a possible ownership group wanting to purchase the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have put down all rumors regarding a sale of the team, but at my age, have always known that where’s there is smoke, there is usually a fire.
How about a trade that would bring Eli Manning to Tennessee for the end of his career?
It’s A Wrap
It’s a thing that April Fools days are made of, but now Kevin White with the ninth pick makes sense.
Next: Should The Titans Trade Out Of Number 2?