2015 NFL Draft: What if the Tennessee Titans took a OL
By Will Lomas
With the 2015 NFL draft now just single-digit days away, it is time to start running the scenarios of what would happen if the Tennessee Titans drafted certain players. This is part of a series of posts I will do in the following week to play out different 2015 NFL Draft possibilities.
These scenarios do not include any trades, and assumes that the Tennessee Titans make no additional moves in free agency.
Today I ask what happens if the Tennessee Titans take an offensive lineman with their top pick?
The need
The Tennessee Titans aren’t short of holes on the offensive side of the ball, and offensive line is definitely a position of concern. Ideally, the only three starters on the current line that would start next year are Taylor Lewan, Andy Levitre and Chance Warmack. A new center and right tackle are needed, although Brian Schwenke has been up and down enough that you might be able to turn him around with improved play by both guards.
Currently it would shock me if the Tennessee Titans didn’t address offensive line sometime within the first 66 picks.
The player
The only player on the board I would strongly consider with the second overall pick, is Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff. The Hawkeye was an outstanding player for the last two years and honestly could start on all five of the offensive line positions from a pure skill standpoint.
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What Scherff lacks in foot speed, he makes up for in tremendous functional strength. Ideally, a team will put Scherff at guard for a year and then let him adjust to a tackle position in the following offseason. However, for the Tennessee Titans I could see him easily stepping in and starting at right tackle.
In my opinion he was asked to do more and was more impressive than last year’s second overall pick Greg Robinson. If teams like him, then there is little doubt that they will like Brandon Scherff too.
Rest of the draft
Now, obviously if Brandon Scherff were the pick (which I put at a 1% chance), that would mean that Zach Mettenberger has gotten the full vote of confidence from the coaching staff and that he is ready to take his first real shot.
With Scherff there to improve protection and help make massive strides in the running game, needs at offensive line and running back would be moved way to the bottom of the list.
Wide receiver, edge rusher and inside linebacker would likely become the Tennessee Titans top three needs going forward. Adding guys like Randy Gregory or Shane Ray at the top of round two could be good value picks at edge rusher considering they are slipping for different reasons.
Miami’s Denzel Perryman could be a nice fourth round pick at inside linebacker. While he doesn’t run or test well, his game shows elite instincts and an ability to make plays consistently.
That leaves the Tennessee Titans targeting a wide receiver in round three. Another Miami Hurricane Phillip Dorsett will be an interesting name due to his ability to stretch the field, which should appeal to a team like the Tennessee Titans who have a quarterback with a cannon arm. If not him, then maybe a Nate Washington-type like Georgia’s Chris Conley who is undersized but can do it all from a route-running standpoint.