Tag: Elijah Molden

Elijah Molden’s former HC explains why Titans CB is a ‘jedi’

Washington head coach Jimmy Lake did his best to explain.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyh7crnrcs3ypf player_id=none image=https://titanswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Ever since ESPN’s Louis Riddick dubbed new Tennessee Titans cornerback Elijah Molden “an absolute jedi in the slot” those who follow the team can’t get enough of this comparison.

But what exactly did Riddick mean when he said it?

Molden’s former head coach at Washington, Jimmy Lake, sat down with NFL Network to try and explain what the “Monday Night Football” commentator meant by the description.

“Well, I think what he was trying to say is he plays a different game — above checkers, above chess — jedi is somewhere like way up here. That’s what I think he was trying to say. And you can see that, the way he diagnoses plays, the way he covers, the way he blitzes, he plays zone; this guy can do it all. He was a leader for us, he made all of our checks; he’s going to walk into the Tennessee Titans, he’s going to learn that playbook inside and out… that’s what type of worker they’re getting, that’s what type of work he did when he arrived here. He already played in an NFL-style defense that we run here at Washington and that’s going to have a big-time carryover into a lot of his success he’s going to have at the NFL level.”

The buzz around Molden is palpable. We’ll see just how much it is warranted when he takes the field for the Titans comes September.

[lawrence-related id=63061,63031,63057]

[vertical-gallery id=63005]

2021 NFL draft grades: How experts viewed Titans’ Day 2 picks

The Titans received some pretty good grades for their Day 2 picks.

The Tennessee Titans made three selections on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft, which saw picks made in the second and third rounds.

In the second round at No. 53 overall, the Titans found their right tackle of the future in North Dakota State product, Dillon Radunz.

After trading back from No. 85 overall with the Green Bay Packers, the Titans netted Georgia linebacker Monty Rice at No. 92 overall, and then Washington cornerback Elijah Molden at No. 100 overall.

Those picks didn’t come without some controversy, though.

Many fans aren’t happen the Titans took a chance on another right tackle so early in this draft after the Isaiah Wilson mess in 2020, and taking an inside linebacker over a wide receiver wasn’t exactly well received.

But how did experts view the Titans’ Day 3 picks? Let’s find out right now as we take a tour of expert grades for general manager Jon Robinson’s selections in the second and third rounds.

Titans’ Jon Robinson, Mike Vrabel talk Day 2 picks, not taking a WR

Jon Robinson addressed questions about not taking a WR.

Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft had some controversy in Tennessee Titans land, as the team failed to add the receiver that the fanbase has been craving for thanks to the team’s current lack of depth at the position.

Instead, Tennessee added offensive tackle Dillon Radunz in the second, and linebacker Monty Rice and defensive back Elijah Molden in the third.

The selection of Monty, which came after a trade back with the Green Bay Packers, was especially surprising, as linebacker isn’t exactly a major position of need, and definitely nowhere near as dire as wide receiver.

At the conclusion of Day 2 on Friday night, Titans general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel met with the media to speak about their newest additions. Robinson did address the thought process behind waiting even longer on a wide receiver.

What Titans’ Monty Rice, Elijah Molden said in first pressers

Rice and Molden met with the media shortly after being drafted.

The Tennessee Titans added two new pieces to their defense during Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft on Friday night after selecting inside linebacker Monty Rice out of Georgia and cornerback Elijah Molden out of Washington.

Prior to making that pair of third-round picks, the Titans selected offensive tackle Dillon Radunz in the second, which means the team didn’t address the wide receiver position once again, something that wasn’t expected.

Whatever the case may be, the Titans may have added their slot corner and inside linebacker of the future.

Molden could slot in as soon as 2021 and makes a once-depleted secondary a little stronger, especially after the Caleb Farley pick, while Rice will likely have a year to develop with Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown and David Long already on the roster.

Shortly after being drafted, Molden and Rice met with the media via Zoom conference. Here’s what two of the Titans’ newest additions had to say.

New Tennessee Titans DB Elijah Molden: How he fits

A quick breakdown of how Elijah Molden fits with the Titans.

With the 100th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected the extremely versatile defensive back out of Washington, Elijah Molden. This is one of the scenarios where the talent was clearly too good to pass up despite investing their first-round pick on a corner earlier in the weekend

Molden was a popular choice among fans within the fan mock drafts scattered all across social media – and it is obvious why.

The Washington product is an extremely vital piece to a defense in need of a face lift. Let’s take a look at what makes Molden such an intriguing prospect for the Tennessee Titans.

Measurables

Position: Defensive Back

School: Washington

Current Year: Senior

Height: 5’10

Weight: 190 pounds

Instant analysis and grade for Titans picking Elijah Molden

The Tennessee Titans — once again — have found outstanding value in the 2021 NFL draft.

[mm-video type=video id=01f4k045k0rd8ghdjmmv playlist_id=01eqbyh7crnrcs3ypf player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f4k045k0rd8ghdjmmv/01f4k045k0rd8ghdjmmv-2118200dff8ae13636c72254a4d1fc28.jpg]

[chalkline game=”nfl-draft-2021″]

The Tennessee Titans — once again — have found outstanding value in the 2021 NFL draft. Late in the third round, the Titans selected defensive back Elijah Molden out of the University of Washington.

Not the Elijah we saw coming.

General manager Jon Robinson is putting on an absolute clinic at this point from a value perspective. Molden is listed as a safety but will likely transition to slot cornerback at the NFL level. He’s been the best at his position at the collegiate level for the better part of the past two seasons.

While Molden might not have been on your radar, he’s a safe prospect. JRob hinted that the team was looking to add immediate impact players early in this draft, and he’s accomplished that with the selection of Molden.

In fact, most media pundits had Molden going much earlier, and in particular, early in the second round.

This doesn’t bode well for cornerback Kevin Johnson, whom the Titans added earlier in free agency. Molden should be a plug-and-play starter for the two-tone blue in the slot.

Despite the Titans’ blatant attempts to ignore the wide receiver position, this selection is too good, which the following grade will reflect.

Grade: A

[lawrence-related id=62501,62461,62491]

[listicle id=62440]

Twitter reacts to Titans selecting Elijah Molden in Round 3

There was a lot of positive coming out of Twitter about the Titans’ pick of Molden.

With their No. 100 overall pick (third round) in the 2021 NFL draft, which came via the compensatory pick formula, the Tennessee Titans added yet another cornerback in Washington product, Elijah Molden.

Coming into this year’s draft, Tennessee’s secondary was among the biggest question marks after the team let both Adoree’ Jackson and Malcolm Butler go.

However, the Titans have now added an outside corner in Caleb Farley out of Virginia Tech, and a slot corner in Molden. All of a sudden, Tennessee’s cornerbacks room is looking much better.

We would assume that, if all goes well, the Titans will start Janoris Jenkins and Farley on the outside, with Kristian Fulton in the slot in 2021. That would give Molden a year to develop while serving as depth along with Breon Borders and Kevin Johnson.

The only problem with taking Molden, and inside linebacker Monty Rice before him, is that the Titans have yet to address another major need, which comes at wide receiver.

We’ll have to wait another day to see if the Titans will add one anywhere between the fourth and seventh rounds. Spoiler alert: they must.

Without further ado, here’s the reaction the Titans drew on Twitter upon taking their second cornerback of the 2021 NFL draft.

[lawrence-related id=62461,62491,62436]

[listicle id=62440]

2021 NFL draft: Titans select CB Elijah Molden at No. 100 overall

The Titans have made their final selection of Day 2.

With their second of two third-round picks, the Tennessee Titans have selected Washington cornerback Elijah Molden at No. 100 overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Titans had their secondary, which was putrid in 2020, totally depleted after releasing both Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson, but have now re-stocked with a pair of young corners in this year’s draft.

While first-round pick Caleb Farley projects as a starter on the outside, Molden, who stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs 192 pounds, is a slot corner.

The Washington product doesn’t have great speed, but he is a willing tackler and plays with great instincts that makes up for his lack of speed.

We do like Molden as a player, but we have to ask: where’s the wide receiver?!

Tennessee desperately needed to add one going into Day 2, but instead have opted not to take one. Perhaps they will address the position on Day 3? We shall see.

After making this pick, the Titans are done with Day 2 but have six more selections on Day 3, with two picks in the fourth and sixth rounds, and then one apiece in the fifth and seventh rounds.

[lawrence-related id=62457,62460,62455]

[listicle id=62431]

Mock draft has Seahawks selecting UW’s Elijah Molden in 2nd round

Luke Easterling of Draft Wire’s mock draft has the Seattle Seahawks selecting Washington cornerback Elijah Molden in the second round.

The 2021 NFL draft is almost here but Seattle Seahawks fans might need to have a little patience this year. With only three total picks (so far) and none in the first round, the 12s might be waiting until Friday to see Seattle make its first selection.

The Seahawks have a few needs this year with cornerback arguably being one of them. Luke Easterling of Draft Wire has Seattle picking a familiar face in the second round at No. 56 overall: CB Elijah Molden out of Washington.

Easterling has Molden ranked as his seventh cornerback in this year’s draft class and has this to say about him as a serious prospect.

Every year, tons of draft prospects get the dreaded “undersized” label, as if their inability to hit certain thresholds on a measuring tape should overshadow a career of impressive play at the highest levels of college football.

That label is sure to be applied to plenty of talented prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class, and Washington cornerback Elijah Molden is likely to be among them.

But if you can look past the height and weight (Molden is listed at 5-10, 190 pounds), and instead focus on how Molden actually performed on the field during four seasons with the Huskies, his track record will show he plays bigger than he’s listed.

The first round of the NFL draft kicks off Thursday night live from Cleveland.

[lawrence-related id=72515]

Cowboys 2021 Draft Debate: Cornerbacks Ifeatu Melifonwu vs Elijah Molden

Dalton Miller and Mike Crum debate which cornerback is better for the Dallas Cowboys between cornerbacks Ifeatu Melifonwu and Elijah Molden

The Dallas Cowboys defense had multiple practice squad players getting major snaps in the defensive backfield last season, including Saivion Smith, Rashad Robinson, Steven Parker and Deante Burton. The team already needed depth before Chidobe Awuzie signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.

Whether in the draft or by signing a vet in free agency, or preferably both, Dallas still needs to go after cornerback in the remaining offseason. The current question for the Cowboys is which prospects should they target? This is a recurring series of debate on which of two prospects is the best fit for the Cowboys. This edition will feature Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu and Washington CB Elijah Molden and will feature former Cowboys Wire contributor Dalton Miller, now of 105.3 the Fan.

Molden stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 192 pounds. The Washington Huskies only played four games in 2020, but in that time Molden was able to be productive, totalling 26 tackles (including one for a loss), an interception and a pass deflection.

Melifonwu is a much bigger player, standing at 6-foot-2, and weighs in at 212 pounds. In 10 games he had 54 tackles (three for loss), a sack, an interception and six pass deflections.

So who fits better? Let the debate begin.