Looking at the 2017 NFL Draft through a different pair of eyes.
I don’t really do this often, but with Matt Miller’s draft analysis dominating the air in Nashville (and rightfully so) I wondered if there was another draftnik that I could look at for some reference on this class.
If you have read any of my stuff you know I am a big fan of Jim Cobern and Justis Mosqueda, who both take a more analytical look at the draft. While Cobern is a firm believer in metrics from top to bottom, Justis relies on basic check boxes for positions outside of pass rushers.
For example, he doesn’t like small CBs, short armed/small OTs, etc, while Cobern analyzes a player’s age down to the hundreth decimal place.
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So, since Justis Mosqueda just put out his top 50 players, I thought that it would be fun to do a quick three round 2017 NFL Mock Draft for the Tennessee Titans based on his big board.
Round 1, pick 5: Marshon Lattimore CB, Ohio State
The 2nd rated player on Justis Mosqueda’s big board, the Tennessee Titans land a stud cornerback that can be a key to this defense for a long time. Here is what he said on Lattimore:
“Lattimore is one of the more athletic cornerbacks in recent memory, and if he comes in close to his listed 6’0″ height, everyone is going to be in play for him. At Ohio State, he was used almost exclusively in press zone and man coverage, both compromising positions for a defender, and he was able to thrive on a down-to-down basis.”
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Round 1, pick 18: Tim Williams EDGE, Alabama
The Tennessee Titans need a third EDGE player more than anyone seems to admit. Every outside linebacker or 4-3 DE on the team not named Brian Orakpo or Derrick Morgan combined for a whopping 2 sacks last year.
That means means that when the 1st string needs a breather QBs like Andrew Luck and Blake Bortles can sit back and have career days against the Titans.
Justis Mosqueda has him as the 7th best player in the 2017 NFL Draft, and this is some of what he had to say:
“He might not be Vic Beasley, but Williams is close to being an athletic clone to Bruce Irvin, who signed a four-year, $37 million deal with the Oakland Raiders last offseason, which makes him one of the 10 highest-paid linebackers in the sport based on average salary, according to Spotrac.”
Round 3, pick 83: Evan Engram TE, Ole Miss
If the Tennessee Titans lose Anthony Fasano, they will have a vacuum at the TE2 spot this year, which is a position they use more often than a slot wide receiver. So, that makes it one of the more important positions on the field to this team.
Engram is Justis Mosqueda’s 37th rated player on his board, so this is great value here. He said this:
“When you hear about Evan Engram this winter and spring, the name that will continue to come up is Jordan Reed. Both shorter, thinner tight ends, they are often linked as H-back types, with Reed being the NFL archetype since Aaron Hernandez was asked to stay away from New England’s headquarters in 2013.”
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Round 3, pick 100: Ethan Pocic OL, LSU
The Titans last pick in this three round NFL Mock Draft is Ethan Pocic. While there isn’t a pressing need at offensive line, there wasn’t a huge need for it when the Dallas Cowboys added La’el Collins to their team either.
Pocic has at least so experience at OT, G and C, which is impressive given that he is 6’6 and most taller players struggle inside.
While the Titans like Dennis Kelly and Josh Kline, would it really be that bad if they upgraded at either one of those positions? Having a very good guard come in and letting Kline be the team’s backup guard/center for both spots is a really good idea.
If his floor is a 6th OL, well that is also great because the Titans use a lot of 6 OL looks. It also saves the team as roster spot on the gameday roster, which could be the way they get buy with getting a pure return man on the field without needing him to play a different spot as well.
He is Justis Mosqueda’s 49th player on his big board. Here is what he said:
“Pocic played just one game at left tackle and one game at right tackle with the Tigers, but he is listed at 6’7” on the school’s official site, and size is a premium at the position. Pocic might well be the class five-tool offensive lineman with the ability to line up wherever you want him to.”