You know what I love? The NFL Draft. You know what I love more? Setting unrealistic expectations for my team based off what I think is the right thing to do in juxtaposition with what the experts like Jon Robinson see as the best way to run the team.
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That is why NFL mock drafts are the best marriage of those two things.
Today, I am going into this 2017 NFL mock draft and reacting to yesterday’s loss against the San Diego Chargers. If I was going to play that game over again, these are the additions that I would want to make to the team.
As always, thanks to Fanspeak for making this much easier thanks to their mock draft simulator.
FanSided
1st round: Malik McDowell DL, Michigan State
This is a pick specifically for this situation. The way that the San Diego Chargers ran on the Tennessee Titans was unacceptable. It wasn’t the passing that hurt the Titans and it wasn’t the tight end, it was the linebackers stuck in no man’s land and the DL getting bullied.
Jurrell Casey is really good and of course the Titans have two very good OLBs, but who else makes a difference in the running game in that front seven. That is a great trio, but it just isn’t enough when your ILBs aren’t making plays.
Getting McDowell will help the Titans at 5-tech and he is a special player. For reference, think of DeForest Buckner but more athletic. That is what McDowell looks like.
1st round: Reuben Foster LB, Alabama
Again, LB play was the worst I have ever seen it from Avery Williamson yesterday. I am a big fan of his, but the way the Chargers spread the Titans out and put pressure on him to play the run perfectly.
Instead, they just could not stop Gordon who made the whole defense look foolish. This gives the Titans some great speed at linebacker and maybe this can’t prevent those 40-yard gashing runs.
3rd round: Montravius Adams NT, Auburn
Another attempt to help fix the run defense here. I know it wasn’t a problem for most of the year, but when offenses have found a hole in the defense, they have gashed the Titans.
The Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers are very good teams, but that doesn’t mean that the Titans defense can be as porous against the run. With Big Montravius Adams in the middle, it gives the Titans a talented new combination of DE/NT/DE in their 3-4 look now with McDowell on one side and Casey on the other.
It also prevents blockers from getting up to the next level and getting to the rangy new ILB Foster which makes him even more effective.
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3rd round: Chidobe Awuzie CB, Colorado
Awuzie is a steal in the 3rd round and he may be one of my favorite CBs in this draft. He has a nose for the ball and he is very physical. He is capable of being an upgrade on every corner on the Titans except for maybe Jason McCourty who I still think is good enough to be a starter outside.
4th round: Courtland Sutton WR, SMU
Sutton has had a very nice two years at SMU and I believe his size and ability will translate. He is still a “WR2” however, if the Titans have more at wide receiver they may not be as afraid to go to that lethal hurry up/shotgun offense when they want to score touchdowns.
He could be a nice player to groom and with Rishard Matthews possibly looking like a fringe WR1 over the last few weeks, Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, Sutton, and Kendall Wright in the slot could be a could 4-man WR group.