Round 5, Pick 174: Shane Lemieux, Guard, Oregon
Other Potential Picks: Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee — Jon Runyan, OT, Michigan
If the Titans pass on drafting Damien Lewis for guard depth in the third round, they’ll find a more than capable backup in Oregon’s Shane Lemieux in the fifth round.
Lemieux served as a season-long starter at left guard in 2019, on an offensive line that quietly dominated its PAC-12 competition. Lemieux didn’t get the national attention that his left side running mate Penei Sewell received, but Lemieux’s play did receive him a strong bit of recognition.
Voted as an All-America second-team player by both the AP and USA Today, Lemieux will be entering the NFL draft as a senior with plenty of individual accolades, but without the draft hype you would expect.
The Titans do have two guards in the starting lineup who both played strong football in Roger Saffold and Nate Davis, but beyond that, interior offensive line play in Tennessee has shown to be scarce. Lemieux could join the roster and immediately serve as the first backup to either guard spot, and has potential to take over as a starter in a few years with Saffold set to hit 32 years old by the time next season begins.
If not guard, the Titans could use their fifth-round pick to bolster two position groups that should be pretty strong at this point. Tennessee Volunteer Jauan Jennings would be a hometown hero type pick for the Titans, but they might not be in need of his services if they take Reagor in the first round.
The same goes for Runyan. If Tennessee uses an early pick to address their offensive tackle group, taking Runyan would be addressing depth more than they would need to. The focus should be on the interior offensive line, and Lemieux fits exactly what the Titans need.