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2009
NFL Draft Needs - Tennessee Titans
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/22/09
Picks (10): 30, 62, 94, 130, 135*, 173*, 203, 206*, 239, 242*
*-compensatory picks cannot be traded
Cornerback – For now the starting tandem of Cortland Finnegan
and Nick Harper is fine. A future starter for Harper needs to be mined
right away though. He turns 35 the first month of the season and will
not be able to carry on much longer. Cary Williams was a seventh round
pick out of Miami, FL last year and his collegiate teammate Tanard
Davis was not drafted at all. Both are young, but neither has the look
of a future starter. Eric King (Lions) is gone. Ineffective Reynaldo
Hill and aging Tyrone Pool are also in free agency limbo. On the plus
side backup free safety Vincent Fuller was locked up as a nickel
option. This position needs to be addressed by seeking a potential
starter.
Wide Receiver – Maybe letting Derrick Mason get away a few years
back was not such a good idea. In 2004 he was their last receiver over
1,000 yards (Drew Bennett also did it that year) and they have
struggled to find talent since. Justin Gage provided some big plays and
managed to lead the team in receiving with 651 yards despite catching
just 34 passes and missing four games. He also had half of the team’s
12 touchdown receptions. Brandon Jones (49ers) was a subtraction and
Nate Washington (Steelers) filled his spot. Other than last year’s
third round pick Lavelle Hawkins there is no one else worth talking
about. After literally years of trying they need to evaluate the rookie
talent and pick up someone who can catch the football. Attacking the
problem earlier in the draft would be a good way to get better talent.
This sounds simplistic, but just look at their history of failed middle
round picks and you’ll see what I mean.
Quarterback – Patrick Ramsey (Broncos) is already on his fourth
team since being a first round pick in 2002 so the term journeyman
fits. He fills the roster spot of Chris Simms (Broncos) but more than
that is a threat to knock Vince Young down the depth chart. VY is also
a former first round pick (2006) as is current starter Kerry Collins
(1995) half a generation later. There seems to be a clear order here.
Collins is locked in for two years to be “the guy”. At the end of that
arrangement he will be 38 and presumed finished. Ramsey is not a future
starter. Young’s place on the team is tied to the hefty contract he
signed as a #3 overall pick. This has become a bit of a cluster
considering no one is in place to lead this team in 2010 or 2011 when
Collins is either washed up or retired. They could make a surprise move
in the draft and suddenly cut ties with Young.
Linebacker – In the middle starter Stephen Tulloch and backup
Ryan Fowler are average. On the outside David Thornton turns 30 in
November and Keith Bulluck just turned 31. Both have been incredibly
durable over the course of their careers. Of course that means they
also have a lot of wear on their bodies. There is not much behind them
and it would make sense for the Titans to look for someone who can take
over down the road when this duo wears down.
Defensive Line – At tackle it is simply not possible to truly
replace Albert Haynesworth, who signed with Washington. At least they
filled his roster spot with an experienced talent Jovan Haye (Bucs).
Tony Brown and last year’s second round pick Jason Jones will be
counted on just a little more with “Fat” Albert out of the picture.
Both can play, and this is not an indictment on them as much as it is
an indication of what Haynesworth meant to this defense. Another solid
complementary piece for the rotation would help them get closer to
where they were with him in the fold. Another factor is Tony Brown
being in the final year of his contract, which leads us to the issue
outside. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse are also only tied up
through 2009. I don’t feel the need at end is as important as the need
at tackle, but with so many picks adding both is likely in this draft.
Offensive Tackle – Daniel Loper (Lions) has moved on. The line
overall is very young, other than center where is appears Leroy Harris
is being groomed to take over for Kevin Mawae. The one questionable
area is depth at tackle. This has to be addressed and likely will be in
the draft.
Michael
Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 7 rounds
Gregory Cox's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 6 rounds
Jared Donnelly's 2009 NFL Mock Draft
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