Tennessee Titans 9th best option in the 2019 NFL Draft: Garrett Bradbury
By Will Lomas
The Tennessee Titans offense could find a new pivot.
Going into this offseason I think everyone (Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson included) knew that offensive line was a huge issue with this team.
However, if you told me that there would potentially be three new starters on the offensive line for the opening week of the season I would have called you crazy…or optimistic.
You have to remember, through two different offensive coordinators, the Titans kept the starting five the same. If everyone was healthy it was going to be Taylor Lewan, Quinton Spain, Ben Jones, Josh Kline, and Jack Conklin.
So when you think about that continuity and then think about replacing 60% of that line you can see why it seemed like a long-shot. But here we are, Quinton Spain and Josh Kline are out while Ben Jones is in the last year of his deal.
With Rodger Saffold already added and a potential three way battle at guard between Ben Jones, Corey Levin and Kevin Pamphile, could another change be on the horizon? If they do think that is a high priority then the 9th best player on this list would be a huge plus.
First, a quick reminder on what this list really is and who is eligible:
-Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams and Josh Allen will be impossible to land barring a trade into the top-3 or 4. They can’t be included in this list.
-This is a list specifically on which of the players available make the Tennessee Titans better?
-Don’t treat this as a big board, some positions won’t be brought up because there is no one talented enough that can come in and be an instant improvement over what the Titans already have.
-While long term help is important, consider what this player does for Tennessee short term and if they will help reduce the hit of free agent departures in the future.
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Which player is the 9th best option for the Tennessee Titans in the 1st round?
Garrett Bradbury IOL, North Carolina State
In the last few years, I can’t remember seeing an interior offensive lineman that was such a natural fit in a zone blocking scheme.
What makes that even more impressive is that he is really just learning how to play offensive line. He entered college as a tight end and despite his long, lack of interest, he finally worked his way from the outside of the line to the middle.
Once there, he became one of the most intriguing centers in recent memory.
The list on what Bradbury can do is long. He is a smooth athlete who gets to the next level well and can win with leverage against linebackers even if they are doing a good job slow playing the play.
Against defensive linemen, he can do something truly incredible which is reach 2-techs and 3-techs consistently. Now, he can’t do it all the time or against slanting defensive linemen, but to be able to do it even occasionally is so impressive.
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The way he blocks, effectively gives you an extra offensive lineman in outside zone plays because he allows your guard to move up to the second level almost immediately instead of working with the center.
Long-story short, he would give the Titans a key piece to the offense that they want to run. Almost like having a deep threat makes a vertical offense better, Bradbury would make the outside zone work in a similar way.
The problem is, even though he is a great fit for what the Titans want to do this year there are two reasons why he isn’t in the top-5.
Firstly, he isn’t a scheme fit for every offense. In a man blocking scheme I would worry about him taking on 1-techs head on which is a big deal. So while, he would be a great fit now Titans fans know how frequently they switch offenses. What if in 2020 or 2021 the Titans switch scheme? At that point I am not even sure if he can be your starting center.
The other issue is that he struggles vs power. In his only matchup with top-100 defensive linemen this year, he was worked over by Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence of Clemson. This isn’t just limited to the run game, it makes him a big liability as a pass protector.
They routinely got into his body and at one point I believe Lawrence bull rushed him back 9-yards directly towards the QB. That can’t happen in Tennessee or else the Titans will end up with another year of Marcus Mariota being injured.
That isn’t being talked about enough and it is a serious concern that should make the Titans at least a little bit hesitant to take him in the first round.
It is an unpopular opinion but even though I like his upside and what he can do in the outside zone, he isn’t my first or even my second choice for the best offensive lineman that the Tennessee Titans could add in this draft.