2015 NFL Draft: Best Case For Tennessee Titans
By Les Bailey
The 2015 NFL Draft has been cussed and discussed in detail since the Combines and even before by teams who’s season ended before the 2014 playoffs like the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars. In less than six hours it will all culminate in Chicago with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell opening with “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the clock”.
If Webster and Whisenhunt don’t change the face of this franchise this year, I don’t think either will be around for the 2016 NFL Draft.
All speculations have the Buccaneers taking Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first pick, Then all hell should break loose with the all-important second pick as soon as the Tennessee Titans are on the clock.
The absolute best case scenario in my opinion would be for Tampa to pass on Winston for some reason and leave him for the Titans to draft.
According to Jim Wyatt at the Tennesseean, General Manager Ruston Webster and head coach, Ken Whisenhunt are prepared to draft Winston should Tampa take Marcus Mariota or trade down for someone wanting the Oregon star.
"After months of studying tape and interviewing players, indications are the Titans are comfortable with selecting former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston or former Oregon quarterback Mariota with the second overall pick on Thursday. The Buccaneers are expected to take Winston, which would leave Mariota for the Titans."
Even if the Tennessee Titans are convinced that Zach Mettenberger is their franchise quarterback for the future, I still think they need to come out of this draft with a quarterback of some kind. Either Marcus Mariota or one coming in a trade who can push the fifth-round pick out of LSU in training camp.
Although I think the second-best scenario is a trade for a seasoned quarterback like Philip Rivers from the San Diego Chargers, all indications are that this isn’t going to happen. There are too many uncertanities in this deal that can not be resolved while the clock is running.
The other factor comes down to Ruston Webster. The Titans GM was quoted yesterday that there is no value in the draft past the 10th or 11th pick and with the Chargers picking 17th, they would need to offer up more then they are willing to give in order to trade up and solve a quarterback issue that won’t be a problem until 2016.
Likewise concerning the Cleveland Browns. If Webster doesn’t value picks past 10, the Browns two picks being 11 and 19, don’t seem to add up to enough value for that possible trade unless the Browns were willing to put more picks or more players in the deal.
The other interesting tidbit that came out of the Titans camp on Wednesday was someone saying if Zach Mettenberger were in this draft, he would be the third quarterback behind Winston and Mariota.
I’m not sure if this was a reality quote, or just the Titans adding more smoke and mirrors to the situation.
If that is the case however, and the Titans do value Mettenberger that high, it may well intice Chip Kelley and the Philadelphia Eagles to put together a deal where they can land their dream quarterback.
You didn’t think Kelly was done, did you?
The trade that sent quarterback Nick Foles to the Rams for Sam Bradford is still a mystery. Why trade for a quarterback where you have to hold your breath everytime he drops back for a pass and a possible season-ending injury? That could make for a long season in the city of Brotherly Love!
Add his hefty contract and salary cap issues to the mix, and that dog just doesn’t hunt!
I’m with the majority that think Chip Kelly has one one more deal up his sleeve. I think that deal involves the Cleveland Browns, and their interest in Sam Bradford that could make a deal work.
If that deal comes, I’m almost sure Kelly will go all-in to get his man, and the winner in the deal could well be the Tennessee Titans.
Put enough picks and some veteran players on the table, and he may have a scenario where the Titans can’t refuse the deal.
Unless there is a deal out there where the Titans can re-stock the farm, they need to go ahead and put Marcus Mariota’s name on the card and sprint quickly to the front of the room.
Even though Ruston Webster said on Wednesday (as reported by ESPN Titans Reporter Paul Kuharsky) that they would not draft Mariota and then trade him, you have to think that remains an option.
Ruston Webster and Ken Whisenhunt have a chance to change the face of this franchise over the next couple of days. They have a bevy of good players on staff, but as Titan Sized writer Sean Maczko pointed out in his Wednesday night post, ‘My Favorite Scenarios For the Tennessee Titans” they have no star power.
If Webster and Whisenhunt don’t change the face of this franchise this year, I don’t think either will be around for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Next: Tennessee Titans Should Address the Offense in the Second Round?