2019 NFL Draft Tennessee Titans instant grade: David Long

The Tennessee Titans finish their draft with David Long.

With all the needs filled, Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson had the board wide open to pick best player available.

After 187 picks, Robinson looked at the board and thought that David Long LB, WVU was the player that helped them the most at that point.

Most of you are probably thinking, who? And honestly you are right to do so. I had only seen one or two games of him, but after going back and watching a little more here is what I found.

What is he?

Long didn’t test athletically, but on film he looks like a very athletic linebacker. Part of that may be that he is so aggressive in his play that he is going 100% from the first step so by nature he just looks faster.

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He is a run and hit linebacker who looks good in coverage but who is very active in run support. Again, he plays with his hair on fire so if he misses or bites on a play action there is a lot of space for the offense to work with.

That overaggressive nature and his smaller size (5’11, 227 lb.) are the other concern he has, but honestly his spot on the roster will be more about his ability to play special teams and to grow into a depth linebacker for the future when the Tennessee Titans experience life without Wesley Woodyard.

What did the Titans pass on to get him?

I guess that the biggest concern is that the Titans could have taken Kelvin Harmon here. I know that they already addressed wide receiver, but Harmon was another guy that Jon Robinson probably loved and instead of making a weakness a strength he made a strength, stronger.

Ultimately I don’t know if it is wrong because I don’t think that Harmon would have helped on special teams and thus wouldn’t be active on game day. So in that case it is just whether or not you think that Harmon is better than Tajae Sharpe? I guess we got our answer.

Instant draft grade David Long: “B+”

Very productive linebacker from a power-5 school who has the disposition of a special teams captain, though he will have to have some coaching if he is going to play much defense.