The Tennessee Titans held the second overall pick in the draft and everyone was certain they would be selling this pick at a high price to a team that ultimately wanted to draft Marcus Mariota. Not many people expected them to take the Heisman winning quarterback from Oregon, but the draft always packs some surprises in the early rounds. Let’s take a look at who the Titans selected.
Round 1 (#2 overall) – Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon)
Round 2 (#40 overall) – Dorial Green-Beckham (WR, Missouri)
Round 3 (#66 overall) – Jeremiah Poutasi (OG, Utah)
Round 4 (#100 overall) – Angelo Blackson (DT, Auburn)
Round 4 (#108 overall) – Jalston Fowler (FB, Alabama)
Round 5 (#138 overall) – David Cobb (RB, Minnesota)
Round 6 (#177 overall) – Deiontrez Mount (OLB, Louisville)
Round 6 (#208 overall) – Andy Gallik (C, Boston College)
Round 7 (#245 overall) – Tre McBride (WR, William & Mary)
Tennessee Titans 2015 NFL Draft Review
Best Player: Marcus Mariota
More times than not, a team’s best player is drafted in the first round. This is definitely the case for Tennessee. With the need for a franchise quarterback, what better player was there on the board than Mariota? The accuracy is there, the touchdown to interception ratio is insane, the off-field issues are non-existent and his heart is like no other. He excelled in the fast-paced offense that Oregon ran, but can he slow it down just a bit for the Titans? Or will the Titans speed the pace up for Mariota?
Head-Scratcher: Jalston Fowler
Why was a fullback drafted in the fourth round? Perhaps Fowler will provide extra blocking to help out the Titans weak offensive line, but it just seems too early for this type of selection. The fullback position is slowly going extinct and another offensive lineman would have helped the team’s run blocking more. Maybe Ken Whisenhunt knows something we don’t yet.
The Surprise: No cornerbacks drafted?
One of the concerns for the Tennessee Titans was the cornerback position. The biggest question mark in this team’s draft class is not drafting anyone to try to upgrade the secondary. This secondary ranked in the bottom half of the NFL last season, but there was nothing done to address that issue. It will be interesting to see if a weak secondary plagues the Tennessee defense again this season.
The Steal: Tre McBride
Tre McBride was a huge steal in the seventh round. He needs to develop a bit before being used often, but he’s going to be a great target for Marcus Mariota from the slot. He has some of the best hands in a talented class of receivers. He definitely needs to be developed, but he’s going to shine if he puts the work in.
Most Likely to Turn Heads During Camp: Dorial Green-Beckham
Being compared to Randy Moss is a great honor, and that is the honor some analysts are giving to Dorial Green-Beckham. He is a freakish athlete with amazing size and great speed. His hands are big and his route running ability is more than acceptable. Even though he sat out last season due to transferring from Missouri to Oklahoma, he could become one of the most talented receivers in the class. His only issues are his off-field issues and attitude, but if he can straighten that out, he could become an elite pass catcher.
The Rest
Jeremiah Poutasi
This was a very solid pick, as it was a good value and a needed upgrade to a weak offensive line. Poutasi is very versatile, as he can play both right tackle and guard, and that is exactly what this team needed.
Angelo Blackson
Blackson will add depth to a shallow defensive front. At 6’4″ 318 pounds, he’ll draw double teams with his big body and free up fellow linemen to rush the passer. He was probably a reach, but the Titans are optimistic he can become a contributing player in the near future.
David Cobb
Cobb is a powerful, downhill runner. He will form a nasty duo with Bishop Sankey, as the two running backs complement each other nicely. He should be able to make an impact immediately.
Deiontrez Mount
Mount has experience playing every position along the defensive front seven. He is a versatile player who should be a solid contributor if he develops properly. The Titans added Brian Orakpo in free agency, but he probably isn’t a long-term solution at outside linebacker.
Andy Gallik
Gallik is not an immediate starter, but how many sixth-round picks are starters in their first couple seasons? He will be given the chance to learn the offense and develop before he takes the field in a few years. Starting center Brian Schwenke tore his MCL last season, so an opportunity for a starting position might open soon if that injury is reaggravated or if Schwenke struggles to regain his form.
Bottom Line
The Tennessee Titans had a fair draft, filling some of their needs. However, they did not attempt to fix their weak defensive backfield and that ommission is mind-boggling. This draft class is headlined by an amazing talent in Marcus Mariota, but at a team needs standpoint, Whisenhunt and company came close to failing Titans fans this year. The team nailed the first two rounds, but the rest of the draft was shaky with an exception or two.
Overall Grade: 7/10
