Tennessee Titans: Shaun Calderon’s 2020 NFL Draft full breakdown

Now that the 2020 NFL Draft has concluded, it’s time I take an in-depth look and analyze each of our six selections.

The Tennessee Titans entered draft weekend with very few glaring holes outside of needing competent depth pieces at certain positions. They entered the draft with seven selections and ended the weekend with six as Jon Robinson wasn’t exactly wheeling and dealing his way all over the draft board like he usually does during this process.

Instead, he chose to stand pat and select where he was slotted for the majority of the draft and the only trade he made came late in the seventh round in which he acquired draft capital for the future rather than forcing a selection on someone that he did not love.

This draft weekend drew mixed reviews all across the board from credentialed media members and twitter GM’s everywhere that always seem to know what’s best. Some felt this was an awesome draft that acquired valuable assets at positions of need while others felt they did a lot of reaching.

Rather than prematurely grading each selection before they even put on their pads, I am going to analyze each of the prospects that were selected and discuss some of their strengths as well as some of their weaknesses.

With all that said: lets take a deeper look and analyze each of the Tennessee Titans’ 2020 draft class.

Round 1 Pick 29

Isaiah Wilson OT, Georgia

With the Tennessee Titans’ first round selection, they picked the massive offensive tackle out of the University of Georgia, Isaiah Wilson. The monstrous right tackle stands at 6’6 and weighs a whopping 350 pounds, the majority of that being muscle mass.

The tall, long and broad offensive tackle displays explosive movement skills that you wouldn’t expect from someone with his physique. Wilson will likely be a handful for pass rushers to get around at the next level and has more than enough power to move opponents against their will and generate vertical push in the run game.

The Georgia product also displays impressive range when trying to reach the second and third levels, and remains relatively consistent in connecting with moving targets in space. His punches are devastating, if he is able to get those hands on you, it’s game over for the opposition. Something that is going to be a sight to see when he gets his chance to open up holes for King Henry.

Wilson also showed steady improvements in pass protection during his tenure at Georgia and his blend of length and footwork is an exciting foundation for Mike Vrabel and company to build on. However, the Brooklyn native enters the league needing some real improvements on his fundamental technique, and that will be necessary in order for him to be dominant at the next level.

As explosive as he is with his hands, he isn’t nearly consistent enough with them at the moment. He has to develop better timing, placement and variance with his strikes if he is going to survive against some of the better defensive players in the NFL.

For someone as massive as he is, he tends to get outreached way too frequently for an offensive tackle with 35.5-inch arms which often causes him to lose any sort of leverage on the defender. He also isn’t very nimble on his feet due to tightness in his lower body which can present some challenges going forward.

He isn’t natural with his pivoting and ability to change direction which can be somewhat worrisome considering the types of defenders he will be blocking at the professional level. He also doesn’t help himself at times due to his tendency to narrow his base and rob himself of the natural power and balance that his massive frame gives him.

Fortunately, most of his deficiencies that show up from a technical standpoint are things that can definitely be sharpened up when he gets around NFL coaches on a full-time basis. He has a genuine cognitive understanding of the position combined with the hard-working mindset that it takes to be successful at the next level. Not to mention he has nearly every physical attribute that you would want from your offensive tackle.

With all that said, sharpening up the fundamental side of his game in order to utilize his rare physical gifts is vital for him to maximize his ceiling at the next level. There are some concerns with his hands and feet that I touched on earlier, but nothing about his game seems unfixable and his foundation of unteachable traits, far outweighs the fear of a few technical issues at the age of 21.

Wilson has an extremely high ceiling but patience and development will be needed in order to reach it. Luckily for him, he went to arguably the best situation for himself as he likely won’t be rushed into the starting lineup out the gate and can take some time to fine-tune his game.

The Titans signed Dennis Kelly to a multi-year extension that contains no guaranteed money after the 2020 season in which they could make the full-time switch to Wilson. And as much as we all believe in Kelly as a swing tackle that comes in occasionally, there is no viable evidence that proves he can do it over a 16+ game schedule. Having another legitimate option in Wilson will also give the team the comfort of knowing that their potent offense won’t fall apart should Kelly flop as a full-time starter.

Isaiah Wilson may not have been the sexy pick in the draft with so many skill players still on the board, but over time, the Georgia product may prove to be the perfect selection for what this Titans team is built to do.

There’s a ton of twitter GM’s trying to say how horrible that pick was because “they heard that so and so had them graded as a 2nd round tackle”. This may be true, but Jon Robinson clearly had him graded as a first round tackle and in reality when you look back at that guys track record, his opinion is the one that we should trust.

And if that’s not good enough for you, I suggest you actually put on some of his game tape and come up with your own valid opinion rather than just finding one that sounds good on the internet. Isaiah Wilson has the potential to give Tennessee another decade of bookend offensive tackle play and that is something that should satisfy and excite all Titans fans.

Round 2 pick 61

Kristian Fulton CB, LSU

Now, I know I said I wasn’t going to give formal grades in this article, but this selection has A+ written all over it. At the conclusion of day one, there was an outcry from the usual skeptics in the fanbase that often choose to find more reasons to complain than they do to cheer.

Many of them felt that GM Jon Robinson missed an opportunity to take a top corner at 29 and instead chose to go with someone who may be a backup tackle for all of 2020 If things go as planned with Kelly. By the time the second round was over, all of them had been silenced because J-Rob played the board perfectly and proved once again that he knows what he’s doing more than all of us.

Everyone knew that both the tackle and corner positions were deep in this 2020 draft class. However, Robinson understood that the tackle position will always be a hot spot in the draft as long as there are competent tackles. Meaning that the likelihood of there being a quality corner at 61, would be much higher than the likelihood of a quality tackle being there.

It was a gamble for sure with the team needing a slot corner more than a backup tackle in terms of the 2020 season, but Robinson’s ability to predict the way the board will play out is second to none and he proved it once again on Friday night with the selection of cornerback Kristian Fulton (LSU) with the 61st pick.

The star cornerback out of LSU joins a fantastic secondary that includes Kevin Byard, Kenny Vaccaro, Adoree’ Jackson, and Malcolm Butler. Fulton will step in and fill Logan Ryan’s role as the slot corner for 2020 and could potentially move primarily to the outside as early as 2021 should he excel as a rookie.

The Titans’ newest cornerback comes in the league with fantastic man and zone coverage skills. He showcases excellent patience and balance when shadowing routes and he makes it difficult for receivers to work into their stems with proper timing.

Fulton Does well to leverage routes and manipulate receivers to where he wants them to be. He is highly competitive and he attacks the football when challenged like an alpha which shouldn’t be surprising coming from a DB factory like LSU.

The Titans’ second round pick tends to stay disciplined and never gets anxious when the ball is in the air. Fulton is a sticky and poised defender that doesn’t allow much separation and makes quarterbacks beat him with tight throws.

His spatial awareness and feel are exceptional qualities that he possesses. Even when he gets high in his backpedal, has a false step, or concedes leverage to some of the better route runners, he remains calm and recovers wonderfully as he displayed numerous times against multiple eventual NFL receivers from Alabama and the SEC in general.

Most importantly, he is able to cover vertically on top of being able to defend horizontally and that is something that Mike Vrabel discussed being a priority in their next nickel back.

Overall his footwork is clean and he is versatile enough to play any coverage technique whether he’s lined up on the inside or outside. He does have some room for improvement in the run game, I’d like to see him stick his nose in there and wrap up more than the ankle tackles he often displays on tape. He doesn’t display the same ball skills as some of the other corners in this class, but you can also make an argument that few of them can blanket a receiver better than Fulton.

The LSU product will need to clean up some technique issues that he often made up with his athleticism at the college level. But he will need to sharpen up his instincts and anticipation skills if he is gonna maximize his ceiling at the next level. There are times when a receiver will seemingly appear to test him vertically and he will prematurely fully commit to the route leaving him as a possible liability for any in/out breaking routes against the crafty route runners that he will see on Sunday’s.

But with all things considered, there are way more things to be excited about Fulton than there are to be concerned with. Everything he does is so natural and he’s always comfortable in every situation regardless of the stage, opponent, or moment.

Fulton also has a work ethic that is second to none and is willing to do the little things that often gets overlooked on the path to greatness.

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Playing a challenging position like cornerback often leads to natural moments of panic, but Fulton is poised and built for the position mentally on top of physically. Fulton has smooth feet, fluid hips, refined and improving technique, tremendous awareness, and the physicality needed to eventually become a shutdown No. 1 corner in the NFL. He’s versatile to play any coverage technique and he handles physical receivers just as effectively as the twitchy ones.

Kristian Fulton may have been a victim of being in a deep draft at one of the deepest positions, but his slide to 61 could prove to be a blessing in disguise for everyone involved when he becomes an immediate contributor on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

Round 3 Pick 93

Darrynton Evans RB, Appalachian state

The Tennessee Titans took the beloved mountaineer from Appalachian state with the 93rd pick in the draft. It has been no secret that Tennessee had been yearning for receiving production out of the backfield and they get it with Evans.

Evans is an explosive back that has the potential to learn every route out of the backfield, and is a one-cut back that can get to his top gear in a hurry. His ability to change directions fluidly combined with his elite elusiveness will create mismatches on linebackers and safeties at the NFL level.

He Has the flexibility to weave through the defense and he breaks pursuit angles and hits the hole at full speed similarly to the way Aaron Jones does for the Packers. He is a dangerous player in space and has a history of contributions in the return game that will undoubtedly help Tennessee in 2020 and beyond.

Evans’ feet are active and he competes hard for extra yardage despite not being one of the most powerful runners and he displays a willingness in pass protection that gives him a chance to improve with proper coaching.

The Appalachian State product can have spotty vision in between the tackles and doesn’t have nearly the type of power that Henry possesses when trying to break arm-tackles. Evans has a ton of raw talent that still needs to be developed at the NFL level, but he can definitely thrive right out the gate in a situation similar to Tennessee’s where he will be a complimentary piece rather than the sole focus. The explosiveness he will bring to Tennessee on obvious passing situations will be a clear improvement from anything the Titans had in 2019.

The Appalachian State product will also be able to keep the Titans’ offense from falling apart whenever Henry is out of the game. Evans has plenty of juice and wiggle that makes him a dangerous threat in space with home run hitting potential anytime he touches the ball.

Evans will provide a contrasting change of pace from the pounding that Henry gives his opponents and will be lethal on defenses if they’re able to split the touches adequately.

I’d expect to see a healthy dose of Evans throughout the year which will ultimately provide a much more balanced attack out of the backfield than they have had ever since Henry took over as the workhorse back.

Back in 2016 Tennessee’s then workhorse running back Demarco Murray led the AFC in rushing with 293 carries while a rookie Derrick Henry carried the ball 110 times. I think that type of split would be ideal for these two backs in order to ensure Henry still enforces his will on defenses, but also maintaining thread on his tires for the long haul by not approaching anything near 400 carries ever again.

Whatever the carries end up being, Tennessee has the potential to have their most lethal dose of ‘smash and dash’ since the Chris Johnson and Lendale White days and that is something that should have Titans fans counting down the days until the fall.

Round 5, pick 174

Larrell Murchison DL, NC State

The Titans got an extremely great value selection at a position of need when they selected NC State’s Larell Murchison with the 174th pick in the fifth round.

He is an extremely high effort player that brings energy on every snap similarly to what Kyle Vanden Bosch would bring to Tennessee back in the day. His motor is full throttle at all times, he keeps his hands busy and he flashes an arsenal of moves in order to occasionally shed blocks and make plays behind or near the line of scrimmage.

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He might not be fundamentally sound at all times but his unique athleticism for someone that size often allows him to mask some of his deficiencies. In terms of the explosiveness needed for a penetration-style role, he checks every box while also offering upside as a five-tech as well.

Murchison makes a living as a gap shooter and has a knack for finding the football and sifting through traffic in pursuit of the ball carrier. Murch was named NC State’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and Most Improved Player awards after a dominant 2018 campaign. He can be inconsistent with his pad level at times as he displayed a plethora of times against West Virginia, this causes him to get squared up and moved out of the way too easily.

His motor is always a 100 MPH but there are plenty of times where his hands are more active than they are effective. His best move is easily his rip and swim move, he displays dynamic range to throw hands off his opponent’s chest without impeding his momentum.

You can appreciate the effort and urgency that his hands display at all times, but there are too many counter moves that fail because he is trying to do too much. Fortunately for him, that is something that he can improve with more deliberate and advanced coaching that he will get at the next level. Especially with someone as hands-on as Mike Vrabel is.

Murch will also need to improve the flexibility in his hips, and entire lower body for that matter in order to efficiently move laterally at the NFL level. Ultimately, The value Murchison possessed that late in the draft, combined with his raw potential, far outweighed the risks that he has at the moment.

Murchison’s versatility makes him an intriguing option for this Titans defense that uses multiple alignments. However, he must grow from a technical standpoint if he plans on consistently becoming part of their rotation anytime soon.

Round 7 pick 224

Cole Mcdonald QB, Hawaii

The quarterback out of the University of Hawaii was selected with the 224th pick in the 7th round. Cole McDonald is the definition of a project quarterback with some upside who definitely won’t be conservative with the football. Sometimes to his own detriment.

McDonald Throws the ball all over the yard, showcasing accuracy to every level of the field whenever he was given adequate time and/or space to throw. He possesses terrific arm strength that is capable of hitting every throw and does well to work in rhythm while not being afraid to challenge defenses vertically.

McDonald Works his progressions and even shows the ability to manipulate coverage with his eyes to help his targets get open here and there. The Hawaii product can rip it as well as anyone in the draft and can work his off-speed pitches when touch is required.

He is a fierce competitor that is sneaky athletic who isn’t afraid to take off with the football or stand tough in the pocket by taking a big hit while delivering a throw.

Unfortunately for him, the processing of the game from a cognitive level doesn’t seem to be on par with his raw arm talent. Too many times he put the ball in harm’s way while also playing in a system that hardly translates to the NFL. He also possesses an unorthodox throwing motion that is elongated and could lead to plenty of strip-sacks at the next level if not tightened up. Hs has started to work on that and began to send videos to the Titans and other interested teams prior to the draft.

McDonald will need to go back and relearn the mechanics of the position from the head down. There are too many times that he doesn’t throw from a consistently balanced platform and the ball will sail on him. He tends to trust his rocket arm too much and was benched twice as a senior because of it.

Despite all that, the gunslinger was a highly productive college passer. He threw for over 8,000 passing yards and 70 touchdowns during his tenure at Hawaii. McDonald’s toughness, arm talent, flashy accuracy and athletic traits pop out on tape. But, his decision making, throwing mechanics, and inability to process defenses are real areas of concern.

The Hawaii quarterback undoubtedly needs to be built from the ground up at the pro level, but he has the type of skill set that is worthy of taking a chance on at that point in the draft. With proper grooming and patience, McDonald could eventually develop into a competent QB2 down the line.

Round 7 pick 243

Chris Jackson DB, Marshall

Marshall’s star defensive back Chris Jackson was selected with the 243rd pick by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday. Jackson ended his career as one of the most prolific defensive backs in school history. He finished as Marshall’s all-time leader with 45 career pass breakups and seven interceptions.

As a senior, Jackson was named to Conference USA’s first-team, after racking up 25 tackles, with 11 pass breakups and one interception. At the end of the season, Marshall’s coaching staff gave him the Tom Stark Award for the Thundering Herd’s defensive player who gives his all, on and off the field — One of the school’s most prestigious awards for their entire program.

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The Tallahassee, Florida native earned all-conference recognition in each of his four seasons at Marshall, including an All-Freshman nod in 2016. The Marshall product is scrappy and consistently brings high energy and a genuine enjoyment to the game that is often contagious to the rest of the team.

Jackson is very raw in all aspects of his game but has a lot of the traits that teams love to work with and if you are patient with him, you may have a competent player down the line who can contribute on defense and/or special teams on a consistent basis.

Effort isn’t an issue with him, but he will need to prove that he has the necessary strength and ability to defend the run adequately and will need to get stronger and more agile in order to handle the physical receivers and tight ends that he will see at the NFL level.

I can see Jackson competing for a spot on the end of the Titans roster and if he can continue to add muscle mass now that he will be in a professional strength training program, it will only improve his chances of making the team. He is a long shot to make the roster as of now, but if he is able to carve out a role on special teams, he may find himself with one of the bottom spots on the roster come the fall.