The long awaited NFL Draft is upon us. In a little more than 24 hours all the rumors, all the speculation, all the mock drafts – all of it; will be over.
The best part is that in a little over 24 hours all of this speculation will be done.
The Tennessee Titans have found themselves in a very rare place the last few weeks – the media spotlight. All sports media outlets and social media networks have been making the Titans the center of conversation. That is due to the pretty imminent fact that Florida State’s QB Jameis Winston is almost a lock to go to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers with the first overall pick. After that, the Titans hold the rest of the draft in their hands.
The Titans are the owners of the 2nd overall pick and speculation is at an all time high. One article I read stated, “The Titans basically are holding the NFL draft at ransom once they are on the clock at #2.” Every one wants to know what will the Titans do with that 2nd pick?
The majority of analysts and football enthusiasts have the Titans selecting Oregon’s QB Marcus Mariota or USC’s DE Leonard Williams, who has been coined as the most overall talented player in the draft this year. Over the last couple days reports are suggesting that the Titans safest pick at #2 would be Alabama’s electrifying WR Amari Cooper. That would immediately give Zach Mettenberger, the Titans quarterback by default, a good young weapon that would be paired with WR Kendall Wright and TE Delanie Walker who are easily the two best offensive threats on the Titans.
The Titans let WR Nate Washington walk out of town and find a new home with AFC South rival Houston Texans. The Titans did, however, add Atlanta Falcons FA WR Harry Douglas and Indianapolis Colts FA WR Hakeem Nicks. I love the two additions. I hope that Douglas can be the wide receiver he was when he wasn’t in Julio Jones and Roddy White’s shadow and that Nicks can return to the form he was in with the New York Giants.
Let me get back to the real point of this article, though.
I want to see the Titans trade back from that #2 spot. I’m sorry to you Mariota fans. If we stayed the course at #2 I would want us to go after Leonard Williams. Our defense got beefed up through free agency and I think Williams would be the last addition we need to make this year on that side of the ball.
Here are the scenarios I would like to see play out for the Titans:
- Titans trade with NY Jets – The Titans send the #2 pick to the Jets who need an identity at QB. The Titans would receive the Jets 6th pick, DE Muhammed Wilkerson, and CB Dee Milliner. This is my favorite “idea” that I came up with. Supposedly, Wilkerson is drawing interest from several teams and why not? He is arguably the best disruptive 3-4 defensive end in the game. Wilkerson would be a great piece to add to Ray Horton’s hybrid defense and would be great to see what Dick LeBeau could come up with for him. Milliner is entering his third season, but went from being first on the depth chart to third or fourth after the Jets went out in free agency and got Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Buster Skrine. Milliner could come onto the Titans and easily compete to start opposite of Jason McCourty.
- Titans trade with Cleveland Browns – The Titans send the #2 pick to the Browns who always seem to want to draft a new quarterback to solve their problems. If the report is true, the Browns have already “offered” up the 12th and 19th picks for the Titans #2 pick. It is becoming a weird reality that the Browns could have Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel on their roster. If only this was a college bowl game.
- Titans trade with San Diego Chargers – The Titans send the #2 pick to the Chargers for a proven, passionate, and elite quarterback in Phillip Rivers. Why would San Diego do this you ask? Well, if Rivers is truly adamant about not wanting to re-sign if the Chargers are on their way north up to Los Angeles. It would behoove the Chargers to have a real heart to heart with Rivers and see where he is at. The last thing the Chargers want to do is see Rivers walk away with nothing in return in 2016. This is where the Chargers revamp the team and start the Mariota era.
I would be elated if any of these three scenarios came to fruition. The best part is that in a little over 24 hours all of this speculation will be done. Will the Titans have a new QB to compete with Mettenberger? Will the Titans pull off a great trade? Will the Titans land Rivers? No one knows.
Titans Nation, what would you like to see?
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