Despite the fact that the Tennessee Titans are fairly set at EDGE going into the 2022 season, the team is still doing its due diligence on the position ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Titans held a pre-draft visit with Western Kentucky edge rusher, DeAngelo Malone. He has also met with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, and is set to meet with the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers.
Malone compiled 32.5 sacks over five years with the Hilltoppers. His best campaign came in 2019 when he tallied a career-high 11 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss.
Western Kentucky pass rusher DeAngelo Malone is visiting the #Falcons today, source said. Malone – the two-time Conference USA DPOY and Senior Bowl American Player of the Game – already visited the #Titans, #Eagles and #Broncos, with #Colts, #Texans and #49ers visits to come.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 11, 2022
In 2021, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge rusher had eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Here’s more on Malone, per The Draft Network:
He has excellent overall athleticism with speed, burst, and quickness. He is explosive off the snap as a pass rusher and threatens the edges in an instant. A very loose and agile athlete, Malone shows an ability to corner and flatten to the quarterback with very little difficulty. He flashes the ankle flexion to turn tight angles and can reduce his surface area around the edge to bend the arc. A high-motor player, Malone plays hard and hustles to the football with impressive closing speed. Malone is a long and lean football player with a very narrow frame. While he is able to use his length to his advantage and maintain distance between he and opposing blockers so that he can disengage and make the tackle, his overall lack of mass and strength severely hurt his ability to be a productive run defender—especially since he plays on the ball nearly 100% of the time. Tackles can easily absorb his punch and bull rush and can quickly move him out of gaps and maul him. He does show quickness to evade blocks and his narrow frame allows him to be slippery in the run game, but if an offensive tackle can square him up, it’s good night. Malone is rarely asked to play off the ball and play in space, but based on his strength limitations that will likely be what he is asked to do at the next level. He does show the necessary athleticism and instincts to succeed off the ball but is entirely a projection in that regard.
Ideal Role: Sub rusher for 3-4 based team with upside to develop into an every-down player.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 OLB
The Western Kentucky product could be a target of the Titans on Day 3. It wouldn’t shock me if the Titans do take an EDGE in this year’s draft, but they should take care of the offensive line (guard and/or tackle), wide receiver and tight end first.
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