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Should the Tennessee Titans trade up for Minkah Fitzpatrick

By Will Lomas

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Minkah Fitzpatrick
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Minkah Fitzpatrick /
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Could the Tennessee Titans land a great player falling down boards?

I have no idea why Minkah Fitzpatrick wouldn’t be drafted in the top-10, but the more you read and hear, the more it looks like that may happen.

Every year a really talented player gets pushed out of the top-10 either because people value other positions higher or because teams make dumb decisions based on how well you test at the combine.

While some people may fall for a combine star like Derwin James (just ignore the few games he had against real competition on tape) and others may need a QB or someone in the front seven, Fitzpatrick seems to be quietly slipping through the cracks.

I have been very clear that I think LB and EDGE are the two big needs for the Titans and that they should attack those positions in the first two rounds of the draft.

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However, I have said this whole process that the Titans need to be looking for stars not just above average hole-fillers. Minkah Fitzpatrick has all the makings of a star DB.

He would give the Titans two of the most versatile safeties in the NFL and it would allow Dean Pees to get very creative with his coverages and blitzes. That flexibility would mean that Tennessee could stay in the 5-DB package for the entire game and really never lose anything.

Fitzpatrick and Byard can both play in the box well (Fitzpatrick has 16.5 TFLs and 5 sacks over the last three years) so big formations wouldn’t be a problem. They also are both fantastic in man and zone coverage possessing good athleticism and feel.

The question is how much would the Titans have to give up? Well there is a scenario that makes sense for both sides.

Tennessee Titans trade 1st round pick 25 and 2nd round pick 57 (1050 points)

Arizona Cardinals trade 1st round pick 15 and 6th round pick 182 (1068 points)

The Titans don’t want to have any less than 6 picks and if Lamar Jackson is gone by 15 then they really may shift their efforts to a more developmental QB and focus on rebuilding that roster. If that is true then trading down like this make a lot of sense for both parties.

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A quick Titans draft would probably end up being

1: Minkah Fitzpatrick DB, Alabama

-Star DB that can do everything.

3: Josey Jewell LB, Iowa

-Run stuffing LB with some range.

4: Anthony Miller WR, Memphis

-WR that has great production and pops on tape, but played questionable competition and has injury red flags.

5: Luke Falk QB, Washington State

-Developmental QB that can be a good backup and future trade bait.

6: Dorance Armstrong EDGE, Kansas

-Long, developmental EDGE who had 10 sacks in 2016 but disappointed this year.

6: Ito Smith RB, Southern Miss

-Multi-tool RB who can start off on special teams and give you a lot of versatility on offense.

That at least patches the holes the Titans have and gives them a chance to get lucky at EDGE with a potential starter in 2019 when they really need him.

So would you sacrifice filling some pretty big holes now in order to get one of the most dominant DB units in the league? A really solid offense with a great young QB along with that defense could still make a really strong push in the post season, though they would have some clear weaknesses.

I honestly don’t know how I would feel about this, but for the next three years (while Byard/Adoree/Fitz are on their rookie contracts) the Titans would have a pretty cheap and outstanding group of DBs.

It is one of the many options that the Titans have to consider as the offseason progresses.

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