The Tennessee Titans have been doing their homework on EDGE defenders ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the latest example comes in the form of Utah EDGE, Bradlee Anae.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the team had a teleconference meeting with the Utah product.
Utah DE @BradleeAnae has had teleconference meetings with the #Jets, #Lions, #Bears, #Titans and #Browns recently. Projected Day 2 prospect had 13 sacks for the Utes last season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 17, 2020
Anae will almost certainly be a Day 2 pick in this year’s draft, but it remains to be seen exactly when. I’ve seen Anae mocked anywhere from early second round to somewhere in the third round.
In 2019, Anae finished with 41 total tackles (14 for loss) and 13 sacks. He played as a defensive end for the Utes but projects to be a stand up outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.
The thing that stands out the most about Anae is his motor, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein points out in his scouting report of the player.
“Anae’s tape tends to grow on you the more you watch with his revved-up motor and salty disposition showing up in every game. He’s fairly skilled and instinctive as an upfield rusher with a threatening upfield burst and a relatively diverse approach to climbing past tackles. He’s not a natural bender or the longest edge defender and he’s much better at attacking blockers than defending his territory against the run. He has the size, hands and strength to play standing or with a hand down, but may have a better chance of becoming a starter as a rush linebacker in a 3-4.”
The Titans already have a pretty solid stable of outside linebackers to work with, so adding Anae will really make for a crowded group.
After the signing of Vic Beasley and the re-signing of Kamalei Correa, the Titans have an outside linebacker corps. consisting of those players, Harold Landry, Derick Roberson, D’Andre Walker and Reggie Gilbert.
During a recent conference call, both general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel both expressed their overall satisfaction with the group, but Robinson didn’t rule out adding another.
We’ll find out what the Titans decide to do with their outside linebackers, as well as every other position, when the NFL Draft begins on April 23.