Tennessee Titans: National Media Mock Draft Picks, Vol. 1
The 2018 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and national media members have a gauge on who the Tennessee Titans will take at no. 25 overall.
With the 2018 NFL Draft now just a little over two months away, mock drafts are out in full force. They are flooding in from every direction, and if you don’t look both ways before crossing the internet, you might get run over by one of them.
While last year’s pre-draft process was particularly exciting due to the Tennessee Titans owning two first round picks, fans should be just as giddy for this year’s draft and the rumors that come with it. The 25th overall pick isn’t an exciting spot to be in, but the Titans don’t have all that many holes to fill on their roster.
With a playoff-winning roster already established, the Titans’ choice for their first round pick could be at almost any position. That makes mock drafts more intriguing than usual, and the most recent assortment of national media mocks has different positions and an eclectic mix of players heading to Nashville.
Let’s check them out.
Will Brinson, CBS Sports
The Pick: Arden Key, EDGE, LSU
The Titans need a young edge player to groom as Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan grow older, and Key could be that guy. He’s a bit raw in terms of pass rushing nuance, but his large, lanky frame and versatility in the run and pass game makes him an enticing option if he were to fall this far.
Ryan McCrystal, Bleacher Report
The Pick: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
Tennessee Titans
Landry has been a popular pick for the Titans in mock drafts, and for good reason. He absolutely dominated the stacked ACC in 2016 to the tune of 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for a loss, seven forced fumbles and even an interception. His final season was marred by injury, but he still managed to accumulate five sacks in eight games played. Landry’s ability to bend around tackles is unteachable, and he would prove to be an outstanding situational pass rusher through his first few seasons.
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports
The Pick: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
Jefferson is a bit of a mixed bag as a prospect. He’s uber-athletic and can fly around the field, but his instincts in the run game aren’t all that great and he tends to go a bit invisible at times throughout games. That said, his tools are something that any linebackers coach or defensive coordinator would love to work with. And if anyone can get him playing fast and free, it would be Mike Vrabel and Dean Pees.
John Harris, Washington Post
The Pick: Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia
Our own Will Lomas pegged Wynn as a dark horse candidate for the 25th overall pick in the past. Wynn’s athletic profile, versatility and experience make him a rather safe choice at the backend of the first round. He can play guard or tackle, and was a staple in the Georgia Bulldogs’ bulldozing offense for the past three seasons.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
The Pick: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Trapasso notes that this pick is essentially dependent on Avery Williamson walking in free agency. If he does, it would create an opening at inside linebacker, where the athletic and instinctual Vander Esch could slot right in. Vander Esch is much more fluid in coverage than Williamson, but he needs to fill out his frame in order to be a thumper on first and second down. Also, he looks like Thad Castle from Blue Mountain State.