Tennessee Titans can afford to pass on EDGE in round 1 of 2019 NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans have some wiggle room with their first pick in the draft.

As it stands with 97 days left until the 2019 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans are picking 19th in the first round.

I think the general consensus (by people who have actually watched the Titans) is that these are the Titans needs in order:

1A. EDGE

1B. IDL

3. IOL

4. WR

If you go by positional value, EDGEs are generally way more impactful than IDLs outside of elite talents. In fact, you could make an argument that if a top-end talent at WR or even DL was available in the first round that the Titans could choose to go that way.

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But, can the Titans actually afford to pass on a EDGE in the first round of this draft. I keep looking at this roster even before free agency and I can kinda see it.

Harold Landry is going to take Brian Orakpo’s spot as the pass rusher other teams have to scheme for who is also very savvy versus the run. Sharif Finch looks very powerful and can probably fill the void that Derrick Morgan will leave in free agency.

Behind them, Kamalei Correa looks like a serviceable EDGE 3 who can do something as a standup EDGE who can play a little in space.

So what are the Titans looking for? Well, if they want to be truly great on defense they need someone to move Sharif Finch down to the second line where he can be one of the bigger impact players in the NFL of the bench.

If they can’t get that, then what can they focus on in the second round or later that compliments what Finch does so that they can find a way to rotate them while the player develops? I’m going to do a quick 4 round 2019 NFL Mock draft to figure out a potential solution.

Here is what I got on Fanspeak:

1st round: Marquise Brown WR, Oklahoma

I typically tend to steer away from WRs in round one this year because historically you can get Pro Bowl WRs at the same rate in round three that you can in round one. However, Brown is a perfect fit for what the Tennessee Titans lack.

Taywan Taylor gets brought up a lot as a deep threat, and while he can do it I think I like him more as a lateral field stretcher who can win from the slot and force the defense to cover sideline to sideline.

Brown on the other hand seems to have true elite speed and that seems to be a characteristic of the AFC South now. The Colts have T.Y. Hilton, the Texans have Will Fuller and now the Titans have Brown.

2nd round: Chase Winovich EDGE, Michigan

This is such a Jon Robinson/Mike Vrabel pick that it hurts. Let me paint you the picture of Chase Winovich. In high school he was a quarterback, linebacker, safety and the return specialist (classic football guy).

As a 3-star, he came to Michigan as a tight end and then moves over to defense where he was dominant. In his last two years he ended up with 34.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks in 26 games. His development has been great and his effort is unquestionable after playing hard through real injuries late in the season this year.

At Michigan, he was a winner which is another big plus for the Titans given what they have drafted in the past. During his time they went 38-14 where the team was almost solely dependent on the defense to carry them.

Everything about him screams future Tennessee Titans draft pick and whether they trade into the 30-40 region (whether that is a trade up or down) I think that is the prime spot to take him in the actual 2019 NFL Draft.

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3rd round: Garrett Bradbury IOL, NCST

Bradbury is interesting. A lot of people I respect think he could be a 2nd round talent but after watching his game against Clemson I question exactly what he is at the next level. His snaps aren’t always perfect and he lacks a little leg drive vs powerful IDL, but he is still really fun to watch.

Those are the negatives, but another way to spin it is that he is a quick, angry IOL whose best comparison may be the center version of Taylor Lewan (from a mentality standpoint). I think putting him at either guard spot on the Titans would instantly help them if they stay in a ZBS.

4th round: Anthony Nelson DL, Iowa

Nelson is 6’7, 271 lb. and was a late deceleration which is why you probably haven’t heard much about him. As a redshirt junior, it felt like he was going to come back and have a huge breakout year but instead he declared into a deep class which I think is great for the Titans.

The Titans need a cheap player that they can move around the line, not only do they get that but they get someone with good production that got better and better each year.

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