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Dueling Tennessee Titans 7-round mock drafts version 1.0

Tell us which Titans mock draft you think is the best by voting in our poll in the article.

With the 2022 NFL draft just a little over two months away, our staff here is taking part in its first dueling mock drafts of the offseason for the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee is projected to enter the 2022 NFL draft with a total of seven selections, including one pick in the first, third and fifth rounds, and two apiece in the fourth and sixth rounds if recent compensatory pick estimates comes to fruition.

The Titans won’t have any picks in the second or seventh rounds thanks to the trades involving Julio Jones and Isaiah Wilson, respectively.

Each of our writers — Mike Moraitis, Ryan Sikes, Shaun Calderon and Tyler Rowland — were tasked with producing their own mock drafts, and then you the reader will have an opportunity to vote for the one you think is the best.

Keep scrolling to check out each version, and then come back here to vote for which one you think is the best in our poll below.

B/R predicts Titans’ Rodger Saffold will be cap casualty

There is definitely a chance the Titans part ways with Rodger Saffold this offseason.

At some point during the offseason, the Tennessee Titans will cut players from their roster to free up salary cap space.

The Titans are currently over the cap by approximately $7 million. They have a number of free agents to consider retaining, and will no doubt look for help in the free-agent market.

Rodger Saffold is a player who has a strong chance of being a cap casualty this offseason. He is set to make $12.9 million in 2022, but the Titans can save $10.5 million by releasing him.

In a recent article predicting the most surprising cuts of the 2022 offseason, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport lists Saffold, although it wouldn’t be that surprising if he was cut.

“To be fair, Saffold had a solid season in 2021. Despite battling nagging injuries, the 33-year-old played in 15 games, surrendering a pair of sacks over 853 snaps, per PFF. It was an improvement over 2020, when Saffold gave up twice as many sacks on a similar snap count.

“But Saffold’s Pro Bowl nod was as much a lifetime achievement award as an indication of his level of play in 2021. He’s a very good, veteran guard. But he’s not a great one.

“And with Saffold carrying a cap hit of almost $13 million in 2022 and Tennessee sitting upward of $8 million in the red, paying a good guard great money may be a luxury the Titans just can’t afford.”

Per PFF, Saffold, who earned his first Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement, graded well in run-blocking (73.9), but he struggled in pass protection, where he earned a grade of 46.7, the lowest of any Titans starter.

Another issue was health. He played in 15 games but was frequently being tended to by the Titans’ training staff, and sometimes multiple times per game.

At 33 years of age, combined with his regression in pass-blocking and the Titans’ need to free up more money, Saffold could be on his way out in Tennessee.

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Titans select David Ojabo in Pro Football Focus mock draft

Another mock draft has the Titans taking an EDGE in Round 1.

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The Tennessee Titans have a big decision to make on outside linebacker Harold Landry, who is coming off a career year that saw him total 12 sacks and play a key role in the revival of the team’s defense.

Landry will be hitting the free-agent market this offseason, and while the expectation is that he’ll be re-signed, there is no guarantee that will happen.

Should Tennessee fail to bring Landry back for any reason, the team will no doubt be in the market for an edge rusher, and Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner has Tennessee addressing that potential need in his mock draft.

With the No. 26 overall pick, Renner has the Titans taking Michigan EDGE David Ojabo, who totaled 11 sacks last season. However, Renner correctly points out that Tennessee taking an EDGE will depend upon what happens with Landry.

“The Titans could have a big need on the edge if Harold Landry III walks in free agency. Ojabo would fill his shoes seamlessly with how athletic and flexible he is. The Titans deploy their edges on stunts a lot, and that’s where Ojabo could make an impact early on.”

If Landry returns, chances are the Titans won’t take an edge rusher until late in the draft, if at all. After all, they’d pretty much be set in that area with Landry, Bud Dupree and 2021 fourth-round pick, Rashad Weaver.

In that case, Tennessee would be wise to focus on the offensive side of the ball early on in the 2022 NFL draft, with needs at wide receiver, tight end, and along the offensive line.

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Titans’ Ryan Tannehill lands in top half of starting QB rankings

Not everyone is down on Ryan Tannehill.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill had his worst season yet in Nashville in 2021, but not everyone is down on the embattled signal-caller.

Recently, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson ranked Tannehill as the No. 45 player on his list of the top 101 players from the 2021 season.

Now, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com is ranking Tannehill as the No. 12 signal-caller out of the list of 62 who started during the 2021 campaign. Here’s why:

“Tannehill’s Divisional Round performance wasn’t quite as bad as I remembered upon rewatching, but it did sour an otherwise rock-solid season. He held the ball too long and threw late after staring down a receiver on his last interception, a shortcoming that has plagued him throughout his career. It doesn’t surprise me the Titans are standing strong behind him as their starter. Even if there are limitations, Tannehill made his teammates better this year, especially one of the worst pass-blocking offensive lines in football.”

Tannehill had a lot to overcome during the 2021 season, so his struggles weren’t all his own fault.

He had a new offensive coordinator in Todd Downing who did not have a good first season as the play-caller, a depleted receiving corps. for several games, and an offensive line that did not provide good pass protection.

However, those things don’t exactly excuse some of the poor decisions he made during the season, and they certainly don’t excuse his horrid three-interception performance in the playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

As a result of that performance, Titans fans are ready to call it quits with the veteran, but general manager Jon Robinson and several of Tannehill’s teammates have come out in support of him in recent weeks.

Even if the Titans want to get rid of Tannehill, it’ll be difficult because of the huge cap hits and dead cap hits he carries. The only feasible avenue to part ways with him would be to trade him, but even that seems unlikely given Tannehill’s contract.

The most realistic approach the Titans can take to improve things is to bring in a better backup and/or draft a quarterback. Outside of that, don’t expect much to change in 2022.

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Titans select Treylon Burks in Touchdown Wire mock draft

Burks would give the Titans much-needed depth immediately, and another receiver to build around for the future.

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We’ve seen at least one NFL draft expert peg Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks to the Tennessee Titans at the No. 26 overall pick, and now we have another.

In the post-Super Bowl mock draft from Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield, the Titans select Burks in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Here’s Schofield’s take on the pick:

“We kick off a little wide receiver run with Treylon Burks from Arkansas. The Titans could use another weapon in the passing game, and an 11 personnel package with A.J. Brown, Julio Jones and now Burks gives the Titans a ton of ways to attack coverages. Burks might be at his best working downfield, on vertical routes along the boundary or deep overs and crosses from the slot, and would be a complement to what both Brown and Jones bring to the table for the Tennessee passing game.”

Finally, a mock draft that doesn’t have the Titans going after a position of strength like edge rusher or linebacker. We’ve seen that far too often this offseason.

Burks would provide much-needed depth immediately, while also giving a second wide receiver to build around, along with A.J. Brown. And, if Dez Fitzpatrick can right the ship after a shaky rookie campaign, Tennessee would have an intriguing trio to work with for the long haul.

Our Ryan Sikes recently did a breakdown of Burks, which you can check out below.

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9 AFC South stories from last week for Titans fans to know

The biggest news out of the AFC South this week is the possibility that Carson Wentz will be one-and-done in Indy.

With another week in the books, it’s time for us to take a trip around the AFC South to see what the Tennessee Titans’ division rivals — the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars — are up to.

Over the past week, all three AFC South teams have been rounding out their coaching staffs, but the biggest news out of the division this week is the uncertain future of quarterback Carson Wentz in Indy.

The Texans appear to have their own dilemma under center, as new head coach Lovie Smith wouldn’t commit to Davis Mills as the starter.

In Jacksonville, one of the best players in Jaguars history is very high on new head coach Doug Pederson, and he rightly shredded the recent tenure of the disaster that was Urban Meyer.

We cover all of those stories and more as we check in on what the Titans’ division rivals are doing.

Dolphins beat writer predicts Titans sign TE Mike Gesicki

Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly seems very confident that the Titans will sign Mike Gesicki.

Heading into the offseason, the Tennessee Titans will undoubtedly look for an upgrade at the tight end position after the organization received minimal contributions there in 2021.

While Anthony Firkser was a standout in training camp, he failed to take the next step during the season. Further, he, along with Geoff Swaim and MyCole Pruitt, are set to become unrestricted free agents.

While one or more of those three could potentially return in two-tone blue, Tennessee would be wise to look at the free-agent market and/or the 2022 NFL draft for tight end help.

One of the more prominent names set to hit the free-agent market at tight end this offseason is Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, who Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly predicts will end up in Nashville.

Gesicki, 26, played in all 17 regular-season games last season, including nine starts, hauling in 73 receptions for 780 yards and two scores — and he compiled those numbers despite shaky quarterback play.

In terms of financials, the Penn State product will not come cheap. Spotrac projects Gesicki to fetch a four-year, $44 million contract in free agency.

The Titans are already $7 million over the salary cap, so they would have to clear some cap space to sign him in addition to retaining either Harold Landry, Ben Jones, or both.

The Dolphins have the most salary-cap space in the National Football League entering the offseason, so they can easily get this deal done and then some. It will be more of a matter if Gesicki wants to be on a contending team.

If you recall, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel praised the 6-foot-6 tight end leading up to Tennessee’s Week 17 matchup against the Dolphins.

“He has an incredible catch radius,” Vrabel said of Gesicki, who had four receptions for 51 yards in the Dolphins’ 34-3 loss in Nashville.

The primary knock on Gesicki is his blocking abilities, or lack thereof. Per Pro Football Focus, he was given grades of 36.6 and 46.1 in pass protection and run-blocking, respectively.

That’s not to say his run blocking couldn’t improve in a different system, but Vrabel has made it known that the primary job of his tight ends is to block.

That said, Gesicki would give quarterback Ryan Tannehill a big target alongside other weapons like A.J. Brown and Julio Jones.

It’s not unrealistic by any means, but the Titans would have to make a few subtractions financially before adding Gesicki.

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Game day Tipico betting odds for Florida basketball vs Auburn Tigers

Believe it or not, Auburn isn’t favored by nearly as much as you’d think.

Florida basketball gets a chance at revenge on Saturday afternoon for a loss earlier this season against the Auburn Tigers, who currently occupy the No. 2 spot in both major polls and the top spot in the Southeastern Conference standings. It is a tall order for the Gators against their toughest opponent this season, but if they have any hope of re-entering the NCAA Tournament discussion, they need to score an upset win on their home floor today.

While War Eagle is perched just below top dog Gonzaga, it places several spots lower in the NET rankings coming in at No. 8 despite having a better record resume than several teams ahead of it. Nonetheless, Auburn ranks much higher than Florida, which fell out of the top 50 after the loss to the Texas A&M Aggies and are ranked No. 53 ahead of the game. Even so, the game represents a Quadrant 1 matchup for both teams in what the oddsmakers appear to believe will be a fairly close one.

The Tipico Sportsbook favors the Tigers by 4.5-points over the Gators while the over/under is set at 139.5. The money lines for Auburn and Florida are minus-200 and plus-160, respectively, as of 10 a.m. EST on Saturday morning.

Team Spread Money Line Total Points
Auburn 4.5
-105		 -200 O 139.5
-110
Florida -4.5
-120		 +160 U 139.5
-110

Can Florida basketball upset No. 2 Auburn at home?

How to follow Florida basketball vs Auburn Tigers

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST on Saturday afternoon inside the O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, livestreamed on the ESPN app and can be heard on the Gators IMG Sports Network.

All Betting Lines are Courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook

Visit our free to play game lobby at Daily Ticket, Powered by Tipico Sportsbook

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

10 prop bets for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Feeling lucky? Try predicting the outcome of these 10 prop bets about Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game.

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game is almost here.

The league’s annual talent showcase is set for 8 p.m. EST on Sunday in Cleveland. It will be broadcast on TNT and ESPN Radio.

The game features a matchup between 12-player rosters selected last week by captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Team LeBron, headlined by James himself, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and James Harden, will be coached by Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns.

Team Durant, headlined by Durant himself, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Trae Young and LaMelo Ball, will be coached by Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat.

With all that in mind, Rookie Wire presents 10 proposition bets about Sunday’s 2022 NBA All-Star Game below.

Former Titans CB Malcolm Butler mulling a comeback

Former Titans CB Malcolm Butler appears set to make a comeback after retiring in 2021.

After abruptly retiring before the 2021 season, former Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler is contemplating a comeback.

Butler, who signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals last offseason, has been released from the reserve/retired list, where he was placed after calling it quits in 2021.

He is now a free agent and able to sign with any team.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi, Butler has been “working out diligently” and the expectation is that he’ll return to the NFL in 2022.

Prior to signing on with the Cardinals last year, Butler spent the previous three seasons with the Titans, where he became a key member of the team’s secondary. However, Butler was a cap casualty during the 2021 offseason.

Butler, 31, made a name for himself during his four seasons with the New England Patriots. His interception off Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX clinched the game for the Pats and remains one of the most memorable moments in league history.

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