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With less than three weeks before the 2015 NFL Draft, all signs are pointing towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Florida State Seminoles QB Jameis Winston with the first overall pick. That puts the Tennessee Titans on the clock at No. 2. The Titans could go in any number of directions with the pick, but the best-case scenario doesn’t involve the team drafting anyone at this spot.
All the Titans need to do is convince one team that Oregon Ducks QB Marcus Mariota is the target at No. 2. If GM Ruston Webster and head coach Ken Whisenhunt are able to do so, the Titans will have succeeded.
The Washington Redskins (No. 5), New York Jets (No. 6), Chicago Bears (No. 7), St. Louis Rams (No. 10), Cleveland Browns (Nos. 12 and 19), New Orleans Saints (Nos. 13 and 31), San Diego Chargers (No. 17) and Philadelphia Eagles (No. 20) have all been linked to Mariota at some point this offseason. That’s 25 percent of the teams in the NFL. Just one has to believe the Titans want Mariota for a trade to take place.
So how far are the Titans willing to drop in Round 1? With potential trade partners ranging from the fifth to 20th pick, the Titans have kept their options open. The team has held private workouts and visits for top-10 talents such as Leonard Williams, Vic Beasley, Amari Cooper, Kevin White and Dante Fowler, Jr. However, prospects expected to be drafted later in Round 1 such as Dorial Green-Beckham, Breshad Perriman and Trae Waynes have also met with the team.
This may just be the Titans doing their due diligence on a number of prospects, but it also indicates the team is trying to gauge exactly how far they are willing to trade down. It just wouldn’t make sense for a team picking second to use up so many of their allotted visits on first-round picks.
Wherever the Titans end up selecting, the pick will likely fill a top need. In 2014, the Titans filled major holes at offensive tackle and running back in the first two rounds. This season, the biggest needs include cornerback and outside linebacker. It just so happens that many of the team’s official visits have been prospects from those positions.
If the Titans prefer an OLB in Round 1, it’s unlikely that the team would be willing to trade outside the top 10. That would limit the number of trade partners to about four. However, if the team likes a CB such as Waynes or Ronald Darby, both of whom have met with the team, the Titans can afford to drop a little lower.
With a seemingly unsettled quarterback situation of their own, why wouldn’t the Titans just draft Mariota? Simply put, he’s not a good fit. As a head coach, Whisenhunt has drafted John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Zach Mettenberger. All three were known for their size and strong arms coming out of college. Those aren’t exactly Mariota’s strong points.
The Titans did plenty of research last year before settling on Mettenberger. The former LSU QB was one of at least six quarterbacks to meet with the team before last year’s draft. He wasn’t a typical sixth-round draft choice either, as maturity concerns and a diluted drug test at the Combine severely damaged his stock.
While he was selected in Round 6, the Titans have a QB who typically would have been a Day 2 pick. After deciding on Mettenberger to be the team’s starting QB, the Titans won’t give up on him so quickly, especially after the team reportedly compared him to four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.
While the Titans are prepared to roll with Mettenberger, Tennessee has less than three weeks to convince teams that’s not the case. With the potential to add multiple first-round picks, trading down is by far the best-case scenario for the Titans.
Shawn Spencer is an NFL Draft writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencer_NFL, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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Jameis Winston A Perfect Fit For Tennessee Titans
