Titans draft Larrell Murchison, Jadeveon Clowney signing looms large
By Will Lomas
With the 174th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select…
After such a huge Day 2 it really felt like Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson had hit so many needs that he could potentially look at any position with the team’s 5th round pick.
However, when he choose to draft Larrell Murchison over Bradlee Anae, I can’t help but think that this has something to do with a pending free agent EDGE…more on that in a little bit.
Who did they draft?
Larrell Murchison went from JUCO to starting for North Carolina State after redshirting in 2017.
Whatever he did during that redshirt season paid off because he came onto the scene in 2018 as a starter and never looked back. During the next two years he started 15 games amassing 20 TFLs and 11 sacks as well as 5 pass deflections when he coudln’t get to the QB.
Where does he fit?
Coming from a 3-3-5 defense in North Carolina State, you can expect him to be used in multiple ways moving everywhere along the line from 5-tech to nose.
After doubling his sacks in 2019 and leading NCST in tackles for loss, it is fair to assume that the Titans will love his career progression from 2-star recruit, to JUCO DL, to starter at a Power-5 school, to team captain his final season.
He seems like an ideal pair to Isaiah Mack on that second wave of the defensive line.
Who else was on the board?
-Bradlee Anae EDGE, Utah
-K.J. Hill WR, Ohio State
-James Proche WR, SMU
-Eno Benjamin RB, Arizona State
-Jon Runyan OL, Michigan
Who I would have drafted?
If the Tennessee Titans made this pick with the thought process being, “We are getting Jadeveon Clowney in free agency, who is the best value besides Bradlee Anae?” then I have no complaints at all with this pick. In fact, I think it is great value.
You can quibble about wanting to add another WR but again, this is one of the big five positions of need which were: CB, RB2, EDGE/DL, WR, OT. If the Titans believe that they found their starter at EDGE in Clowney, then this gives them a backup plan inside who can still be a great depth player even if his presumed role is cut down with the big signing likely coming.