We’re forgoing our single NFL mock draft for the month of March to go through each team individually. Each team has a handful of picks with which to improve their team, trade away, or waste completely on useless players. I’ll do my best to stop them with my suggestions, but there’s only so much I can do. The Titans come into the draft in tremendous shape, if you don’t count their horrible head coaching hire. They’ve got a nice collection of skill players already on offense and just need to bulk up their offensive line and build their defense.
Round 1, Pick 1 – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2015: 51 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, four passes defended, one forced fumble, 6-foot-5, 269 pounds
If you check a lot of mock drafts you’ve seen Laremy Tunsil at this spot or even Jalen Ramsey. I agree with tight end Delanie Walker when he said the Titans don’t need anymore young offensive linemen and need to add guys in free agency so that pushes Tunsil down. Ramsey should turn out to be an NFL star, but a cornerback is not going to go No. 1 in the draft. Bosa then becomes the guy and as he should have been all along. The Titans might end up with the next J.J. Watt. At worst, they end up with the next Chris Long. More likely they’ll get something in between which is still worth about 14 sacks a season.
Round 2, Pick 2 (33) – Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
6-foot-5, 307 pounds
And here I immediately backtrack on the Titans’ young offensive line. Coleman is too good a value pick here and, at worst, will add some depth this season and be ready to start next season. Coleman is a work in progress, but the size and talent is there and as long as the Titans work the free agency market right, he can have a long and productive career in Tennessee.
Round 3, Pick 1 (64) – William Jackson III, Houston
2015: 43 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, five interceptions, two touchdowns, one fumble recovery, 6-foot-0, 189 pounds
Jackson lit up the combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash as well as his other drills, so there’s a good chance he might not be here when the Titans pick at the top of the third round. Looking at the positions and players, and especially with how many offensive and defensive lineman will likely go ahead of him, I’m going to go ahead and roll the dice and say he makes it to the first pick of the third round. But no further. Jackson is probably a day-one NFL starter and, at worst, a nickle guy his rookie year.
Round 4, Pick 113 – De’Runnya Wilson, WR/TE, Mississippi State
2015: 59 catches, 905 yards, 10 touchdowns, 6-foot-5, 224 pounds
Wilson didn’t have the greatest combine and is still listed as a wide receiver, even though I think he’ll be used more like a tight end by whoever picks him. Wilson’s 40-time of 4.85 doesn’t do his production justice and, playing in the SEC, it’s not like he’s been going against scrubs out there. Wilson has lined up against Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Florida defensive backs his whole career and done pretty well, especially in the red zone. And that’s where the Titans need him the most.
Round 5, Pick 140 – Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
2015: 237 carries, 1,343 yards, 14 touchdowns, 30 catches, 242 yards, one touchdown, 5-foot-10, 208 pounds
The Titans have a decent running back corps already and shored it up by re-signing Antonio Andrews before he could hit free agency. Perkins comes in as a prototype in size and performance. His 4.54 40-yard dash shows he has plenty of speed to be an NFL back and his production, not only in the running game, but the passing game makes him a weapon. Perkins is the kind of player that can steal a starting job by the end of the season.
Round 6, Pick 177 – Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn
2015: 69 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, one interception, 13 passes defended, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, 5-foot-9, 186 pounds
Jones blazed a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine and had great stats as a starter for Auburn, but his size knocks him down a bit as an NFL corner. He does have a good vertical leap though, at 10-feet, three inches so that might make up for it.
Round 6, Pick 18 193 -Tyvis Powell, FS, Ohio State
2015: 71 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three passes defended, 6-foot-3, 211 pounds
Powell has size and range and with a 4.46 40, not too many wide receivers in the NFL can run away from him. He has the size and strength to battle tight ends in the NFL and could sneak into the starting line up before the season is over.
Round 7, Pick 225 – Avery Young, OT, Auburn
6-foot-5, 328 pounds
The numbers look good so there’s a real chance the Titans could end up with both Auburn tackles. Young is a three-year starter who even saw some action in the starting lineup as a freshman. Young played some guard too and that’s probably where he’ll end up as a pro. Like Coleman Young needs a solid year of pro training and coaching, but there’s a starter her in a couple of years.
“Want to give your comments about this article? You can either leave them here or you can join us on the Get More Sports Forum and talk about this article and many more! Brag about your favorite team, argue about an athlete’s performance or tell us about a game you saw. Join a new community of sports fans who live and breathe sports and sports entertainment. It’s free! Join now!”
