Tennessee Titans: 5 players to watch at the NFL Combine

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Defensive end Bradlee Anae #6 of the Utah Utes sacks quarterback Brandon Dawkins #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the college football game at Arizona Stadium on September 22, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 22: Defensive end Bradlee Anae #6 of the Utah Utes sacks quarterback Brandon Dawkins #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the college football game at Arizona Stadium on September 22, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
4 of 6
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: Lamical Perine #2 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Florida defeated Virginia 36-28. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: Lamical Perine #2 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Florida defeated Virginia 36-28. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

RB Lamical Perine

The Scouting Combine is great for catching glimpses of early-round draft stars, but the event also serves to give diamond in the rough players a chance to prove themselves. This year, Florida Gators running back, Lamical Perine, will be looking to have one of those combine breakouts.

If he can set himself apart from the Day Three draft crowd, Perine could fit perfectly into the Titans’ backfield. The Gators’ running back doesn’t possess elite top-end speed, but he’s one of the better pass-catching running backs Tennessee will be able to find in round six or seven.

When (hopefully not if) the Titans bring back Derrick Henry, running back won’t be too pressing of a concern. King Henry will be 26 years old when the next season begins, but coming off of a career and league-best rushing season the year prior, age or durability on Henry’s end shouldn’t be pressing concerns right now.

What should be concerning, however, is Henry’s passing-catching ability. The Titans star is great on the ground and with the ball in his hands, but doesn’t get many receiving opportunities out of the backfield. Dion Lewis was supposed to be the pass-catching lightning to Henry’s thunder, but Lewis hasn’t been able to contribute much since joining the team.

That’s where Perine comes in, to be the pass-catching running back the Titans have needed in their backfield for the last couple of years. Tennessee won’t need to invest heavily in a running back, and should be comfortable waiting until the later rounds, and Perine should be an option for the Titans if he has a good combine.

Schedule