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Can Tennessee Titans turn draft “trash” into treasure

By Will Lomas

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 1: Outside linebacker Shane Ray #56 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a strip fumble in the fourth quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 1: Outside linebacker Shane Ray #56 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a strip fumble in the fourth quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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Can Jon Robinson pull of a reclamation project in Tennessee.

Before Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson was making excellent draft picks and free agent signings, he believed in buying low on players that he thought had a high ceiling.

It all started with DeMarco Murray. It is easy to forget now, but his one year with the Philadelphia Eagles made him look like a product of the Dallas Cowboys offense. There were doubts whether he would be a starting caliber RB outside of the state of Texas.

However, Jon Robinson made a call and swapped fourths with the Eagles (which essentially was worth a 7th round pick) and got Murray. The rest is history, Murray came to the Titans, led the AFC in rushing and helped them carve out a new identity.

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Fast forward to now, and I can’t help but think that some of the players whose 5th year options were declined, might be projects that Robinson wants to take on again. He showed last year that he wasn’t afraid to trade a late round pick for a role player.

These are the players that didn’t work out for the team that drafted them, but who could have some upside.

7th overall pick Kevin White WR, WVU (Chicago Bears)

White was someone I really liked coming out of college. Before his injuries, he was a freak running a 4.35 at 6’3, 215 lb. Not only did he test well, but he looked great, he was someone that I thought would quickly surpass Alshon Jeffery on the depth chart as WR1.

Injuries got in his way, but he will only be 26 when the season starts so maybe a good team could develop him to be a field stretcher.

12th overall pick Danny Shelton NT, Washington (Cleveland Browns)

Shelton is what people pretended that Vita Vea was coming out this year. He is a nose tackle with the athleticism to be more than just a guy who hugs a center.

Would he be a star on this team? No, but having he and Benny Logan on the roster for a year while you decide who is better is a great way to get more help on the DL long term.

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23rd overall pick Shane Ray EDGE, Mizzou (Denver Broncos)

Ray is someone that I really didn’t like coming out, but man he did enough where I am reconsidering. He isn’t a star EDGE, but is he better than Kevin Dodd, Josh Carraway or Aaron Wallace? I mean probably right?

Two years ago when healthy, Ray had 8 sacks which is a solid performance. If you could replicate that as a rotational guy rushing opposite Harold Landry, you could rotate fresh pass rushers in almost at will.

26th overall pick Breshad Perriman WR, Miami (Baltimore Ravens)

I mentioned that White could find success as a deep threat, but Perriman would have to be a deep threat to earn a spot in the NFL. That is the one thing that I think the Titans would add if they could make one more move this offseason: a speed receiver.

He showed some ability to make big plays two years ago, but he has just been so unproductive that there is no way you could give him the guaranteed money it would take to exercise his option.

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    • 28th overall pick Laken Tomlinson IOL, Duke (San Francisco 49ers)

    The Titans have a great competition going on for the left guard position, but I think Tomlinson could be really good depth at all the IOL spots. He isn’t athletic, but if you need to dig someone out of a trench he had the power to do that in college.

    32nd overall pick Malcom Brown DL, Texas (New England Patriots)

    The only player on this list with Pro Bowl potential according to analytics guru Jim Cobern, Brown is another big guy with some wiggle. He is someone that can hold the POA but get you three sacks a year and be a problem for centers and guards.

    If the Titans want interior disruption instead of space eaters, he is probably better for them than Shelton. Though he would definitely have a less specified role on the team.

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