Day One: Justin Herbert (Oregon)
If the Titans show any interest in Justin Herbert throughout the NFL Combine, Oregon’s Pro Day, or private workouts, there could be a real chance that they move up in the draft to get their guy. Herbert has consistently been mocked to teams in the middle of the first round, and the Titans will not be making their first selection until the 29th overall pick.
If you recall, the Houston Texans did something similar with Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft, trading up from the 25th overall selection to grab the Clemson product with the 12th pick. The Texans exchanged spots with the Cleveland Browns, and the latter received the 25th overall selection and the Texans’ 2018 first-round pick.
It’s difficult to imagine Herbert falling to the 29th overall pick, especially with quarterback-needy teams in the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, and several other teams depending on what transpires with their current quarterback situation between now and the draft.
Herbert was believed to be a top-five pick in the draft last year but chose to return to school. In his senior year, he threw for nearly 3,500 yards, with 32 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He’s displayed remarkable accuracy in a pass-happy Oregon offense. At 6-foot-6 and 237 pounds, Herbert is your prototypical pocket quarterback, but he has also shown the ability to pull the ball in and run for a few yards when needed.
I have seen Jordan Love‘s stock rising, and he could potentially go in the first round as well. However, his accuracy and problems with turning the ball over are a huge red flag. If the Titans cannot move up to draft Herbert, they will have to wait until Day Two to evaluate a potential quarterback.