In his introductory press conference, new Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson let it be known that the Titans number one pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was for sale.
Without a clear-cut franchise quarterback on the board like last year when Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota were solid picks who had the potential to make a difference, the pickings are pretty slim for a franchise signal caller in 2016.
There are three teams who absolutely need a quarterback and a couple of teams like the Dallas Cowboys who are looking down the road for a project to develop for the future.
The Cleveland Browns who draft second, the Los Angeles Rams who have the 15th pick and the Houston Texans picking 22nd all have a quarterback at the top of their shopping list.
The Browns always need a quarterback, but the Rams and Texans are both only a quarterback away from making a legitimate run. They have key players throughout the lineup and both have great defenses that are playoff ready.
ESPN Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is projecting Cal’s Jared Goff to the Browns with Paxton Lynch from Memphis State to Los Angeles, leaving Carson Wentz from North Dakota State going to Houston at 22.
Unfortunately, both Goff and Lynch appear to be projects that will need some time to develop and are not ready to step into a starting job at the NFL level.
If the Tennessee Titans want a big Draft-Day payday in the form of multiple draft picks, one of these three prospects need to turn some heads in the next 90 days, and it appears that Carson Wentz is doing just that at the Senior Bowl.
The upside is Wentz is 6’5″, weighs in at 235 pounds, is very athletic with a strong arm and has played in a more conventional pro-style offense at North Dakota State. The downside is, his level of competition in the FCS. No one has seen him play, and those who have, have not seen him play against top players.
The head of the Senior Bowl, Phil Savage, hasn’t seen Wentz play in person. Wentz is “probably going to be the most watched player here,” Savage said, but it’s an odd reality for the Senior Bowl’s top official, who readily admits that the top draw at quarterback is a guy who most NFL evaluators haven’t seen in a live game.
"“From everything I saw of Wentz on video and then talking to people in the league, he’s big – 6-[foot-]5, 231 [pounds] – he’s got a strong arm, he’s very athletic. He’s in an offense that’s more conventional to the NFL, rather than all of this spread type of stuff. Even though he’s coming from the FCS, he’s got a lot of traits that people think will carry over to the NFL.”"
Dallas Cowboy head coach Jason Garrett will be coaching the North squad in the Senior Bowl, and you can bet they will be evaluating this youngster as a possible backup and eventual replacement for oft-injured Tony Romo.
The Cowboys draft in the fourth position this year, and being a possible player for a quarterback, would make the Titans position a lot better.
“Jason and the Cowboys, obviously, they have to make plans at some point for the post-Tony Romo era, whenever that occurs,” Savage said. “I would certainly think that being able to compare Carson Wentz up close and personal with the other candidates that are out there will be helpful to them.”
Next: Should the Titans follow the Ted Sundquist Blueprint?
With not much excitement surrounding Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch at this point, Carson Wentz could be the catylst for a draft-day frenzy.
If not, the Tennessee Titans select….Joey Bosa Ohio State University!