Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Tis the season for 2013 NFL mock drafts to begin and FanSided.com is welcoming it with doors wide open by posting a new mock draft every week. I didn’t get to hit on last weeks, but I’ll be doing a weekly update and analysis of their pick for the Titans from now on.
To check out this weeks full mock draft, you can click on this link http://fansided.com/
This week they have the Titans taking DE Bjoern Werner of the Florida State Seminoles. Here’s what they had to say:
I view this pick as a huge upgrade over last weeks pick, which had the Titans taking a DT with their first pick, something which would seem wasteful with the talent the Titans have at that position and their needs elsewhere.
While I don’t see DE as the Titans top need, throwing a big, productive guy into the mix with Wimbley and Morgan could really boost the Titans sack numbers. One of their biggest problems this year was a lack of depth at the DE position, having lost Dave Ball to IR before the season even began, the Titans only had rookie Scott Solomon and Panel Egboh, amongst a couple others to back them up.
Nov 17, 2012; College Park, MD, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Bjoern Werner (95) rushes the quarterback past Maryland Terrapins lineman Justin Gilbert (75) at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
That just didn’t get it done for the Titans this year and there was a noticeable dip in play when Morgan and Wimbley weren’t on the field. As a team, the Titans have 23 sacks, just 5 less than their total last year. Wimbley has 5 sacks, Ayers has 4, and Morgan has 2.5.
While DE might now be the most glaring need, grabbing Werner at 10 is a good deal and I wouldn’t frown at it.
Werner, originally from Berlin, Germany, is finishing his junior year at Florida State. In his freshman year he recorded 3.5 sacks. His sophomore year saw him collect 7 sacks, as well as 8 pass deflections, a forced fumble, recovered fumble, a touchdown, and an interception. He’s followed that up this year with 13 sacks and 7 pass deflections, as well as a forced fumble and recovered fumble.
I like that. His 6’4 frame is also likable, though weighing in at somewhere around 255 lbs, he could stand to add 10 to 15 pounds. His production says plenty though, and those swats and size makes you think a little bit about the Texans J.J. Watt.
He’s currently the top rated DE on draft boards and is looking like a top-10 pick, though we know how these things can fluctuate between now and the draft. This is a player that I don’t think will move up or down very much though.
If the Titans take him with the 10th pick of the 2013 NFL draft, you probably won’t here me complaining.
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