Tennessee Titans: 2015 NFL Draft grades
By P. L. Colter
After months of speculation and suspension, the Tennessee Titans finally broke their silence…this weekend in Chicago. The picks are in and the draft is over. Let’s grade the Titans performance this year.
Round 1: A+
Tennessee addressed their biggest need with the second overall pick, selecting qb Marcus Mariota. This is a home run hit on several fronts. The Titans have their qb for the immediate and foreseeable future, the fans have a fresh new toy…someone worthy of paying good money to see, and the media now has a face to attach to the previously faceless franchise.
Round 2: A
Tennessee dealt the 33rd pick to the Giants, dropped back seven slots, and still grabbed their player…wr Dorial Green-Beckham at #40. Tennessee, and Mariota specifically, desperately needed a true number 1 receiver on the outside. Green-Beckham has all of the physical tools to be just that. In addition to DGB, the Titans also picked up an additional 4th round pick, as well as a 7th round pick. Green-Beckham’s off-field issues prevents this from being a slam dunk A+.
Round 3: C
Jeremiah Poutasi, offensive tackle from Utah, was selected with the 66th pick. Yes, Tennessee addressed their glaring hole at right tackle, while giving their prized new possession some additional protection. While effective at Utah, he may be a reach at #66. Poutasi is projected to be more effective at guard, and may be a work in progress. The Titans need immediate help there.
Round 4: B
Tennessee had two of the top 8 picks in this round, selecting Auburn defensive tackle Angelo Blackson at 100, and Alabama fullback Jalson Fowler at 108. The Fowler pick may prove to show long term benefits. Fowler is a throwback physical fullback that loves contact and plays with an edge. He’ll be prominent in short yardage and goal line situations, and will also play some h-back and tight end. Fowler’s ability to do multiple things makes him a tremendous asset to a young versatile qb.
Blackson is also talented, and will compete for playing time at an already loaded position. I would have liked to see Tennessee get an edge rusher first, given the bevy of bodies already at defensive tackle. My thinking is that new defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau wants to platoon a steady stream of fresh bodies up front. And anything that can improve one of the worst rushing defenses in the league last year is a good thing.
Round 5: A
Minnesota running back David Cobb was a 5th round steal for the Titans. He’s a low center of gravity, straight-lined power back. A style similar to Maurice Jones-Drew. Cobb’s in your face approach is the perfect compliment to Bishop Sankey’s shifty scat-back style. Don’t be surprised if the rookie tandem of Fowler and Cobb is called upon early in the season to finish off games.
Round 6: B
Tennessee had two selection is this round as well, selecting Louisville outside linebacker Deiontrez Mount and Boston College center Andy Gallik. Although he will not be expected to earn playing time, Galllik provides depth for a position decimated by injury last year. One thing to really love about Gallik is the fact that, he too, loves to mix it up. Mount provides some necessary depth behind free agent signee Brian Orakpo, who we know will miss a game or two this season.
Round 7: B
William & Mary wide receiver Tre McBride was taken with the Titans’ final pick. And consider this the Dorial Green-Beckham insurance pick. Not from a talent perspective (McBride has talent, but not that of DGB), but from a numbers perspective. McBride may make the practice squad just in case things go awry with the controversial second round pick.
Overall
Tennessee gets an A for effort in this year’s draft. They resisted the temptation of getting too “cute”, and selected a solid qb prospect. They had a plan of building an offense around their rookie qb, and did just that by selecting offensive players with seven of their nine picks.
The Titans shed their conservative image, gambling their 40th pick on a controversial but potential game-breaking superstar receiver. They added two tough nosed running backs in Fowler and Cobb, and addressed their depth issues on the offensive line.
Just about everything that a Titans fan…needing a reason to believe…would want to see.
Next: 2015 NFL Draft: Tennessee Titans trade the right pick