Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Mock Draft Monday: Offensive Lines, Wide Receivers & Potential Options

Episode Date: February 14, 2022

It is time for another Mock Draft Monday on the Locked On Titans podcast!!! The Tennessee Titans will have multiple options at pick #26, but who do some national pundits see them going after?? Two positions seem to come up the most: Wide Receiver & Offensive Line. So who makes sense for the Titans at those two spots? Are there any other positions they could attack? Tyler looks at six national mocks to see what they have the Titans doing and he gives his analysis as to whether the prospect is a good fit or if the Titans should have gone elsewhere!Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3332GMOh4y5PX3q9NFybwSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline..net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, it is a mock draft Monday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast on today's show. I'm going to be going over six different mock drafts, taking a look at a couple of different options that the Tennessee Titans will have at pick 26. Should they look at wide receiver? Should they look at offensive line? Should they look at any other position like linebacker or quarterback? I'll give you guys my takes based on these mock drafts that we go over

on a Mock Draft Monday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. Let's get it. You are Locked On Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. It is a mock draft Monday here on the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Been a Tennessee Titans fan for over 20 years. Been breaking down the film for three seasons now,

covering all the news and notes out of Nashville as well. Make sure you subscribe to the Locked on Titans podcast on whatever platform you do stream. Check out the podcast on YouTube on the Locked on Titans YouTube channel. Subscribe over there. Smash that notification bell so you know when all of my content goes live. Throw a thumbs up on the video if you're watching on YouTube right now. Check me out on social media at Tic Tac Titans on Twitter, at Locked on Titans pod on Facebook.

Thank you for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. It is a Mock Draft Monday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast and is brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline, where the game starts. But it is a Mock Draft Monday, and as we are going to do pretty much every Monday leading up to the NFL Draft, we are going to do pretty much every Monday leading up to the NFL draft,

we are going to take a look at some mock drafts. We'll use outside mock drafts from national pundits, but I'll be putting together some of my own seven-round mock drafts for the Titans based on some mock draft simulators. I am going to have some times where I take a look at mock drafts from you guys submitted from Tennessee Titans fans and my loyal listeners to the Locked on Titans podcast. So it's a good opportunity on Mondays for us to kind of take a look at what options the Titans have specifically in the first round today. And there are some names and some positions that continue to come up.

So let's have a little bit of a discussion about what makes the most sense for the Tennessee Titans. Number one, we are going to start with a mock draft coming from Cynthia Freeland from the NFL Network. She definitely has a background in statistics and analytics and things like that. We're going to take a look at what she has to say for the Titans at pick number 26. And this name that comes up in Cynthia's mock draft for the Titans at 26 happens to be one of my favorite possible selections quote Linderbaum ranks in the top 95th percentile in body control at the center position and maintain winning leverage on run blocks at the

best rate in FBS last season end quote there so Cynthia obviously has the numbers to back up her pick but you take a look at some of the film on Linderbaum, and he would just be a perfect fit in the Titans' zone-blocking scheme. He's fantastic at reaching defensive tackles, even two gaps away from him, scooping those blocks, getting up to the second level. He's an athletic guy with great play strength as well. Anytime that you're drafting an offensive lineman out of Iowa,

you know exactly what you are going to get. So I would love for the Titans to end up with Tyler Linderbaum. Obviously, Ben Jones had a good season last year, but he's getting older. Who knows how much longer he'll play? Even if the Titans can bring Ben Jones back as a free agent for a cheap value deal, I think getting Linderbaum to be the pivot for the Titans for a decade, I think that would still be a great pick. I would be over the moon. I got to tell you guys,

Tyler Linderbaum has become one of my darlings, one of my guys that I would really love to see for the Titans. But the next mock draft that we are going to look at comes from CBS, and it is Tom Fornelli. And he has a guy who I know Titans fans want a pass catcher in the first round. I get that and if the Titans do pick one late in the first round, I think this guy actually makes the most sense for what the Titans need in terms of explosion and some creativity on offense, some playmaking, but it also checks the box of what we know the Titans like in terms of physicality, in terms of size at wide receiver. And Tom Fornelli has the Titans taking at pick 26

Trelon Burks, the wide receiver out of Arkansas. Again, six foot three, 225 pounds. He's basically an ultra talented Nick Westbrook Aquino, which clearly they love to have an NWI in there as that third wide receiver. I mean, Burks played some shotgun wildcat quarterback. They handed him the ball. They threw a ton of bubble screens and quick screens and smoke routes to him just to get the ball in his hands for him to make plays. He plays with a little bit of running back to his game. All of that big physical size can get creative in the offensive game plan, using him in screens.

Think about that bubble screen to Chester Rogers, and now imagine that it's going to Traylon Burks. You have the playmaking out of the slot position without sacrificing the blocking because Burks, although he's not as good of a blocker as Nick Westbrook-Akina, of course, he's going to give you that size and physicality that it can at least mirror that. So I think Traylon Burks would be a perfect pick. And here's what Fornelli had to say about his pick.

He said, quote, Burks is one of my favorite prospects in this draft class. You know teams will be looking for the next Debo Samuel. Burks is a guy most likely to get that comp. I'm not sure it's accurate, but it's understandable. He's big, much quicker than you think he'd be when you look at him, and is an excellent after the catch. He can run away from people and run over people. In other words, he's a Titan, and I got to agree completely with Fornelli.

I think if the Titans took a wide receiver in the first round, if they could just get their hands on pretty much any wide receiver, I think Burks may be the absolute best fit. But that's going to do it for the first two mock drafts that we are going to take a look at here. We're going to look at four more mock drafts today, two more in our next conversation. We get another offensive lineman that I think makes a lot of sense

for the Titans and another wide receiver as well. Those are two positions that continue to come up. And if we're all honest with each other, depth on the offensive line and adding another playmaker has to be the Titans' two primary needs going into the NFL draft but we're going to talk more about who those players are at those two positions before we get into that do want to tell you guys a little bit more about the best tasting protein bars in the galaxy from our friends over at Built Bar. Built Bars are the best of both worlds when it

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for 15% off at Bilt.com. Titans fans, let's continue this Mock Draft Monday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast, going over two more mock drafts that have some faces Titans need to really acquaint themselves with, some names that Titans fans are going to be hearing popping up for the Titans for the next few months until we get to the draft. And at two positions, offensive line and wide receiver,

that make a ton of sense for the Titans in the first round as well. Speaking of that, before we get into it, do want to thank you guys for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. Make sure you subscribe on whatever platform you do stream. But diving into our next mock draft, it is from Lance Zerloin from the NFL Network. He has the Titans going with offensive lineman Zion Johnson out of Boston College. And like I talked about with Tyler

Linderbaum, you get a guy who can really help you in a place where you need depth on that offensive line. He fits perfectly in the Titan zone blocking scheme. He's got great athleticism. And especially when you look back at how he played in the senior bowl, once they put Zion Johnson in there, in the interior, and they started running those inside zones, he was just clearing out paths all day long. So he's a guy who fits perfectly in the Titan system at a position of need. It does make a lot of sense. Here's what Zerlein had to say about the pick. Quote, the Titans need talent along the interior and Johnson just might offer guard center value after playing in the pivot at the senior bowl.

He's a powerful run blocker who stood out in Mobile. So like I was talking about, he had a great performance in the Senior Bowl, can be that pivot for the Titans playing at center. He can play guard if the Titans choose to move on from Roger Saffold and they don't feel comfortable putting Dylan Radins there, putting Aaron Brewer there full-time. He could be a guy Zion to come in and compete. So, I like that pick. The only thing I will say is there is another option that I think makes more sense I think Tyler Linderbaum

is clearly a better player than Zion Johnson and Linderbaum went number 31 in Zerlurin's mock draft there are a couple of these mock drafts where Linderbaum went in the top 10 now I think that's a little overzealous I think Linderbaum will come in in the mid-teens most likely, but if the Titans had a straight-up choice between Zion Johnson and Tyler Linderbaum, I got to be honest, that would be a little sad if they would go with Johnson. I don't think that'd be the right move, but if Linderbaum is gone and Johnson is there and make a little bit more sense, I'd still like to see the Titans do a trade down into the late first round later at least, or the early second round and then take Johnson. That would make a little bit more sense for me.

But either way, it's a position of need. And if the board falls the way that it may, I could see the Titans doing that and making some sense. The next mock draft that we are going to take a look at comes from a colleague of mine from the Locked On Network, Vinny Iyer. Now, with this mock draft, he is writing for the Sporting News, so shout out to Vinny there. But he gives the Titans, like I said, a familiar position in this mock draft. He has the Titans going with Jahan Dotson, the wide receiver out of Penn State, 5'11",

184 pounds. Now, the Titans need wide receiver, and I think they really, really need to improve on that Chester Rogers role within the offense. To me, that's really what stands out the most. They have to find a guy who's better than Chester Rogers and is explosive enough to actually threaten defenses on those short little bubble screens.

The Titans want to start doing a little bit more RPO. They want to start doing those things, quick bubble screens, quick smoke routes, things like that, to get their playmakers the ball in space. Well, you need guys who can actually take advantage in space, and Chester Rogers and Nick Westbrook-Akina are not that. So, Jahan Dotson could be that for the Titans. While he is a smaller guy, 5'11", 180,

you know, he's explosive and can help the Titans in the slot on some of those plays that we've been talking about throughout the episode. So even though he doesn't match the physical profile of what we know the Titans like in a wide receiver, I mean, they did have Chester Rogers and Cam Batson on the team for a reason, and Mason Kinsey on the practice squad for a reason.

They know that there is a role within the offense for that short, speedy, quick, bursty wide receiver. So the Titans at least acknowledge by what we've seen that they need that player in the offense. Now they just need a better version of that than what they've had for the past few years. And Dotson could give them that here is what Vinny had to say about the pick.

Quote, the Titans didn't get the durability and explosiveness they needed out of a faded Julio Jones opposite A.J. Brown. Now they seem set on keeping Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback. They must upgrade his downfield options. Dotson is a speedy vertical threat with the quickness to also make big plays after making strong catches in open field. And that vertical threat, I talk a lot about, you know, the gadget plays, the screens, the jet sweeps, the things like that that I would like to see incorporated more into the Titans

offense. The Titans are having trouble getting early down yardage. You know, there are games where the Titans literally couldn't get any yards at all outside of third down. I think back to that San Francisco game in the first half. I mean, they got zero yards multiple times on first and second down running basic plays. Run a jet sweep to somebody.

I mean, run a bubble screen. Run these things that can help you manufacture offense, and you're going to be able to do that with more success if you have playmakers who can actually take advantage of that. And Dotson is somebody that could do that. So I got to say, I would rather have Trelon Burks. No way around it. When we get to my rankings and we talk about individual positions

as we prepare for the draft, I'm going to have Burks rated higher than I'm going to have Dotson. But it would make sense there. Now, there are some other options that were on the table in this mock draft. Tight end Trey McBride ended up getting taken at pick 29. I guess you would say the consensus is number one tight end out of Colorado State. So maybe, folks, Dotson is a good player, but there's so much depth and talent at wide receiver

that I would be okay if the Titans wanted to go with a Trey McBride and look for a wide receiver in the third round or something like that, or maybe go in free agency and try to find a better slot option than Chester Rogers. Also, Drake London, who is another one of those big-bodied wide receivers from USC, he went at pick 30, so both of those guys would be an option. I think I would probably lean towards Drake London if I had my choice of wide receiver over Dotson, but I still would be okay with the pick. Just an acknowledgement that the Titans are trying to improve their playmakers

on the offensive side of the ball. We got two more mock drafts to go over on today's mock draft Monday. We are going to dive into them before we do. Got to tell you guys about betonline.net. Football season might be over, but basketball is full steam ahead with both pro and college. For all the latest odds, totals, player performance props, where to find the next great value, which coach is going to be fired,

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right to the Olympic coverage and information. Head to the website today or use your mobile device to learn more about the trends and action. BetOnline, where the game starts. Titans fans, let's cap off this Mock Draft Monday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We've gone through four mock drafts already,

and coincidentally, we have seen all of the mock drafts be either offensive line or wide receivers. So I think these pundits know exactly where the Titans' needs are going to be. But for this next mock draft, got a different position than we've seen taken on today's show. Before we get into that one, I thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. Ask for your second listen. I told you guys where to make your bets

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free. But going into this next mock draft, it comes from Cam Meller from Pro Football Network. And I gotta tell you, it's the worst one out of all six that we're gonna go over today. And if this position gets taken, this is the new tight end

for Titans mock drafts for all of 2018, all of 2019, a lot of 2020. These mock drafts from national opponents would give the Titans a tight end, a tight end, a tight end. Johnnie Smith is a real thing. The Titans didn't need a tight end.

So it never made any sense. And this is, like I said, this is the new tight end when it comes to mock drafts. The Titans have David Long. The Titans have Monty Rice. The Titans should be able to bring back Jayon Brown on a team-friendly contract. He's not going to get a big deal. He didn't have a great season.

The Titans could potentially bring back Zach Cunningham as well. Well, I don't think it'll be on a $10 million deal that he's slated to get right now. The Titans may restructure him. The Titans may cut him and then resign him, whatever they want to do. So the Titans, in my opinion, although there are still moving parts, the Titans are going to have depth at inside linebacker because of what they had last year. There's going to be enough of those pieces back to where I don't think you take a first round linebacker. And first and foremost, I don't think you take a first-round linebacker anyways.

Linebacker, John Robinson, found David Long in the sixth round. There's no need to spend a first-round pick on a linebacker, on an off-ball linebacker. Absolutely not. And that's why Cam Mellor's pick of N'Kobe Dean, the linebacker from Georgia, I just can't get down with. I just can't agree with.

I'm not on board. I'm not. I don't think it makes sense. Now, N'Kobe Dean is a fine player. He's a fine player. Nothing against him, but the Titans should not be taking a linebacker in the first round, period,

let alone when they're set up to have some good pieces at linebacker in 2022. It just doesn't make a lot of sense. But I'll at least, to keep it consistent, read you guys what Cam had to say about his selection. Quote, Expecting Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Rabel to know a thing about linebackers,

he helps make the call here with N'Kobe Dean at pick 26. Dean was routinely seen calling out pre-snap reads that accurately predicted where the intended rushing direction was during his time at Georgia. He's a smart, heady linebacker with amazing strength in his compact frame. Dean should immediately factor into the lineup for Tennessee. Both David Long Jr. and Zach Cunningham could be gone from the team following the 2022 season. Dean could be used on coverage and sub package in year one

or straight up as a three-down starter on the inside as he's good enough to do either with great success. Odds are the Titans grab a linebacker and free agency or the draft to help with depth and future plans. There's no better answer to those questions than Lloyd or Dean in this draft. However, okay. I mean, he's not wrong about looking towards the future, and he's not wrong about looking to add a linebacker in free agency or the draft. I think they do try to add another inside linebacker in the draft,

but you don't do it in round one. That's really all it comes down to. And when you start to look at some of the other options that were on the table, Chris Alave was available. Tyler Linderbaum was available. Trevor Penning, the offensive tackle, was available. Tyler Linderbaum was available. Trevor Penning, the offensive tackle, was available. Traylon Burks at wide receiver was available. If those four guys are on the board and the Titans take a linebacker, you are going to have to pull me out of the Chattahoochee,

man. Like, no way. No, I'm going to the Batman building in Nashville and jumping off. No way. The Titans are taking a linebacker over those four prospects. I just refuse to believe that. So no offense to Cam. Does good work there, but no way. Not for me. I refuse to believe the Titans will take a linebacker at pick 26.

They had to have learned their lesson with Rashawn Evans. So the final mock draft that I have is a guy who does fantastic work, was previously with the Draft Network, got a new gig with ESPN. He is fantastic. His name's Jordan Reed. Going over what his selection was for the Titans at pick 26. I really like it. Chris Alave.

Now, Alave isn't going to be a guy who's getting in there and blocking all the time, but he's going to block about just as well as Chester Rogers would. So, Alave's 6'1". He is slender, but he is a speedster. He's a polished route runner. He's just a pro. He's just a pro already. He was dominant at Ohio State during his career,

and this is what Jordan Reed had to say about the pick. Quote, The first year pairing Julio Jones with A.J. Brown didn't go as planned for the Titans, as the duo combined to miss nine games due to injury. Shed a tear. In search of a long-term answer that provides a different dynamic, Olave would bring speed. He's a target who can take advantage of all three areas of the field.

One NFL scout described Olave to me as a more polished Will Fuller. Olave has a slender 6'1 frame and could run in a 4-3 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. He can unlock the downfield dynamic of the Tennessee offense and keep teams from solely focusing on Derrick Henry by loading up the box. I think that's great analysis from Jordan. I think he's spot on with what Olave could bring to the Titans. And here's another thing. So last year, a lot of the time, A.J. Brown was being used as the vertical threat to open up the middle for Julio Jones. Well, what if Julio Jones and A.J. Brown could both work over the middle because Chris Olave was taking the top off the defense and

making that deep safety stay deep, keeping the middle open. The Titans need that desperately in their offense. Chester Rogers is not that guy. And you know what? It may feel like I'm beating a dead horse at this point, but the horse needs to be beat. The Titans cannot go into another season without a viable third option with speed that can stretch the field. They have been missing it the entire Ryan Tannehill era.

It is necessary. Mike Rabel has neglected it over and over again, They have been missing it the entire Ryan Tannehill era. It is necessary. Mike Rabel has neglected it over and over again, thinking it's not important. Oh, we'll just go with basically a tight end and Nick Westbrook-Akina in that role. No, those days are over. The Titans have to add more speed on offense to be more explosive. We know the truth.

So I love the pick from Jordan Reed. What is it? Three out of our six mock drafts were wide receiver. I mean, it makes a ton of sense. It makes a ton of sense. And like I said, at the beginning of the show, we're going to keep mixing up these mock draft Mondays. Did a couple of national ones back to back. Next time, we're going to be looking at my own mock drafts, looking at some of your guys' mock drafts. A lot to discuss. So really do appreciate you guys sharing mock drafts with me. I don't mind that at all. I love discussing them as we all get more acquainted with some of these college players who make sense for the Titans.

But that's going to do it for me today. I hope you guys enjoyed the big game. I'm recording this prior to the Super Bowl, so we'll discuss more of what took place on Tuesday's show. Probably do a Twitter Tuesday and maybe answer some mailbag questions as well. So a lot coming up on the Locked on Titans podcast this week. Very excited to dig into this all-season content. But that's going to do it for me today, folks.

As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.