2020 NFL Mock Draft: Tennessee Titans use PFF’s draft study
By Will Lomas
Round 1, pick 29: Josh Jones OT, Houston
PFF’s historical data of finding a starter at OT in the 1st round: 62.1% (vs 41.7 in the 2nd, 30.7% in the 3rd or less than 25% beyond that)
The Tennessee Titans are setting up to have a need at right tackle and if I am forced to assume that they aren’t going to keep Jack Conklin then you have to go in to the 2020 season with something besides Dennis Kelly (if they even keep him).
If we are going to look at Jones as a fit with the Tennessee Titans, I think we have to start off with his athletic ability. He is long and quick off the ball which is going to be so important in the Titans ZBS that had so much success in the second half of 2020.
He is a career left tackle so there is some downside to drafting a guy who is going to have to play on the opposite side of the line, but at the same time you get the benefit of someone who could slide over to the other side if you need him to. That would have been very handy to have for the first four games of the season this year.
Is he a perfect tackle? No, I think there are times when he plays too high and that can be a problem in the NFL. However, I think he is a 1st round pick in any class just because of what he can do for a team like the Titans who need that kind of athlete.
With 30+ starts in his career, I don’t really worry about his football IQ but I would be lying if I said that I was super confident in the right side of the offensive line being a rookie RT and Nate Davis at RG.
Still, the options in round two were much worse and this team needs to make sure the offensive line stays strong for the next few years as the inevitable switch from Derrick Henry creeps closer.