With just four months to go until the 2022 NFL draft, which begins on April 28, ESPN draft guru Todd McShay has released his first mock draft.
And in it, he has the Tennessee Titans taking cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. out of Clemson with the No. 26 overall pick. Here’s McShay’s take on his selection for the Titans:
Is Harold Landry III back next season? I can’t imagine the Titans let him go in free agency after 11 sacks in 13 games this year, but if they do, edge rusher has to be considered in this spot. Colorado State tight end Trey McBride also warrants attention for Tennessee. The Titans didn’t fully maximize Jonnu Smith in their system before letting him walk last spring, but quarterback Ryan Tannehill would love McBride if they looked his way.
Tennessee took Caleb Farley and Kristian Fulton with early picks in the past two years, but cornerback remains a bit of a weakness. The Titans have allowed 30 passing plays of 25-plus yards, tied for the sixth most in the NFL. Booth’s tape has impressed me, from his ability to run in phase with receivers to his excellent ball skills (three interceptions this year).
McShay hits the nail on the head when he says edge rusher will become a big priority should Landry leave, but we can’t imagine that happening, especially with both sides already talking contract extension.
Tennessee taking a cornerback in this spot doesn’t seem realistic, even though Booth Jr. is a great fit with the team because of his man-coverage and overall ball skills.
After all, the Titans spent two picks on cornerbacks in 2021 (Caleb Farley in the first round, Elijah Molden in the third), and spent one on Kristian Fulton in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
On the surface, the Titans look set both on the perimeter and in the slot for years to come, unless of course they don’t believe in Farley, who was having a rocky rookie season before tearing his ACL.
In our minds, offensive line is the most obvious position to target this early. The Titans are getting a little long in the tooth in that area, whether it be at guard, center, or tackle.
Ben Jones is set to be a free agent, and both Rodger Saffold and Taylor Lewan are potential cut candidates in 2022. Furthermore, right tackle David Quessenberry isn’t a long-term solution in that spot.
McShay mentions tight end as another position the Titans could target with this pick, and while Tennessee does need a boost at that position, the offense simply doesn’t utilize tight end enough to justify taking one in the first round.
The wide receiver position is one to watch. A.J. Brown has had trouble staying healthy, Julio Jones’ future is anything but certain, and Dez Fitzpatrick has had a rocky rookie campaign.
The good news for the Titans is that there aren’t really many clear-cut spots to point to and say, “the Titans really need help here,” but that could certainly change between now and April’s draft.
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