Titan Sized Staff Predicts Regular Season Standouts

Defensive Player of the Year: Adoree Jackson (3 votes)

The Titans have invested extensively in the defensive backfield over the last few seasons in an effort to turn the page on a secondary that routinely let the team down in 2015 and 2016. Surprisingly enough, the Titans secondary might now be the strongest group on this team heading into 2018.

With one of the league’s best cornerback trios in Adoree’ Jackson, Malcolm Butler, and Logan Ryan locking down opposing receivers, while Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro patrol the middle of the field, DC Dean Pees can make life a living hell for opposing passing attacks.

Apart from Matias Wodner, who predicts Jurrell Casey will capitalize on outside pressure and strong coverage to wreak havoc on guards and centers, all of our writers voted for either Byard or Jackson in that star-studded secondary. It took Byard until his sophomore season to transform into the full-fledged superstar that flew around the field making tackles, breaking up passes, and pulling in interceptions.

Although two writers anticipate Byard building on his All-Pro sophomore season as the team’s best defensive player for the second year in a row, three writers anticipate Jackson making a similar jump as Byard did last season into elite territory with one season under his belt.

As Dobbins notes, Jackson led all rookies in snap count and he led Tennessee in pass break-ups with 17 last year. Based on that number, Jackson has had  a number of opportunities to make plays on the ball, but just hasn’t converted these opportunities into interceptions. Jackson’s athleticism, quickness, and ball skills give him all the tools to be a true lockdown corner and flip the field for the defense, which is why half of our panel tabbed him to be the team’s best defensive player in 2018.

Also Received Votes: Kevin Byard (2), Jurrell Casey (1)