Having presumably filled their most significant need with the selection of Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Titans could go in any number of different directions with their next pick.
The second and third rounds of the draft get underway starting at 6 p.m.
The Titans have the sixth pick of the second round, No. 38 overall. Tennessee does not have a third-round pick, as it went to Arizona last year in a deal that allowed the organization to move up and draft starting quarterback Will Levis.
If the Titans are interested in bolstering the interior of their defensive line, options are available to them in players like Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton, Florida State’s Braden Fiske, Michigan’s Kris Jenkins and Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro, among others.
The 6-2, 304-pound Newton was Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked interior defender, ahead of Texas’ Byron Murphy, who was chosen with the 16th overall pick by Seattle. Newton isn’t necessarily quite as massive as some interior defensive prospects. But his quick feet, high motor and ability to squeeze through gaps helped Newton record a combined 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
Another potential path for the Titans in the second round is to select an edge rusher, following the departure of versatile Denico Autry, who led Tennessee last season with 11.5 sacks and 58 quarterback pressures. One prospect who would have made a lot of sense for the Titans was Missouri’s Darius Robinson, but he was snared at No. 27 by Arizona on Thursday.
The consensus top player available at edge rusher is likely Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, a violent, physical player who competes with relentless energy. In the last three seasons, Kneeland posted a combined 25.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Evaluators say he is a little bit raw in the pass-rush department, with the best still to come.
The Titans made some very significant additions at both cornerback and wide receiver in recent weeks, trading for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
But it wouldn’t be unthinkable for the Titans to address either of those critical positions. DeAndre Hopkins is in the last year of his contract and fellow receiver Ridley is 29 years old.
There are plenty of talented prospects still available at wide receiver, a pool that includes Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, Michigan’s Roman Wilson, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell, Florida State’s Keon Coleman and Oregon’s Troy Franklin, among others. McConkey, Wilson and Mitchell all ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds.
The 5-11, 185-pound Wilson might fit the bill as an ideal slot receiver for the Titans, as he did most of his damage at that position for the Wolverines over the last two seasons. In Michigan’s run-oriented offense last season, Wilson still caught 48 passes for 789 yards (16.4 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns. In other words, he averaged a touchdown on every fourth reception.
There are good cornerbacks on the board as well, such as Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw and Michigan’s Mike Sainristil.
The 6-0, 202-pound DeJean is an intriguing player because of his versatility, as evaluators believe he could play safety, outside cornerback or nickel corner. Over the last two seasons combined, DeJean totaled 116 tackles, five tackles for loss, seven interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and 20 passes defensed.
A side benefit of DeJean: He would be a great special-teams addition. He averaged 13.1 yards on 31 punt returns last season (taking one back for a score) and served as a gunner on punt coverage, making 12 tackles.
The second round may be too early to draft an inside linebacker, but the top three are available — N.C. State’s Payton Wilson, Michigan’s Junior Colson and Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper.
Colson, The Athletic’s top-rated linebacker, is a Nashville homecoming story waiting to happen.
He was born in Haiti, but was adopted by a Brentwood family and starred at Ravenwood High. Colson gets rave reviews for his toughness, physicality and athleticism. Over the last two seasons, Colson posted a combined 196 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and three passes defensed.
There’s also the possibility the Titans could trade back from their No. 38 spot, accumulating more draft capital in the process.
The team currently has six remaining picks — one in the second round (No. 38), one in the fourth (No. 106), one in the fifth (No. 146), one in the sixth (No. 182) and two in the seventh (No. 242 and 252).