Tennessee Titans: What To Do With The 1st Pick

For the first time in the past few years, it’s actually somewhat difficult for experts and fans to determine what is going to happen in the top 5 picks of an NFL draft.  Part of the reason rests with the team holding the #1 overall pick.  With Marcus Mariota already in place at quarterback, the ease of predicting what the Tennessee Titans will do goes out the window.  Some believe they’ll go for the best offensive tackle on the board to improve their pass protection.  Other think they might for a highly talented defensive back for their secondary.

Then there is the added possibility they might choose to not make the pick at all, reaching a trade agreement with another team to move out of that spot.  It’s difficult to determine what they might do because they have a new GM in charge.  With no history of picks being made, Jon Robinson has the element of surprise.  Still, the Mocks crew was called upon to offer their insight into what they feel the Titans are likeliest to do.

Shawn Spencer:

First thing I try to do is trade down. That likely won’t happen until we’re much closer to the draft, but if anyone wants to jump ahead of Cleveland and take a QB number one, let teams know the pick is available for the right price. Since there isn’t an elite QB prospect in this draft, the likelihood of trading down is low, so Laremy Tunsil is the pick. Tennessee drafted a franchise QB last year, and they need to protect him for years to come.

The best way to do that is by drafting Tunsil and moving Taylor Lewan to right tackle. With that one pick, the Titans improve at two positions on the offensive line. At this point Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin and Taylor Decker appear to be first-round locks. With the stock of offensive tackles skyrocketing over the last few years, Jason Spriggs, Germain Ifedi and possibly even Le’Raven Clark could wind up being first-round picks.

If that’s the case, there’s a huge drop off in talent by the time pick 33 comes around. Tunsil may not be viewed as the best player available, but the Titans have to take care of the best player on their roster in order to compete for a playoff spot.

Matthew Holowiak:

If I can’t trade down I’m going Tunsil. He is the top prospect in this draft. The size and athleticism combo is too much to pass over, and with a young and inexperienced quarterback like Marcus Mariota, protection is going to be needed. In my opinion there is a clear drop off after Tunsil for offensive line and it isn’t very close. The best option for them is to trade down however and get as much as they can for that pick. They aren’t just a player away from success, especially in a division that tight.

Brady Lunt:

First, I’m reviewing offers for the pick. It won’t come cheap, but if someone is willing to pay the price, it’ll help stock up the assets. If I stay, it’s coming down between a sure-fire starting left tackle with all the physical tools to anchor the position for the next decade in Laremy Tunsil or a potential captain of the secondary and a game-changing playmaker with the versatility to play all over the backend in Jalen Ramsey.

In the end, the focus of building around Mariota and helping him be successful puts Tunsil squarely at the top. The Tennessee Titans select OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss.

At the end of the day teams just don’t get the #1 pick that often.  The Titans have a young, solid roster in place and are not in a pinch for more picks.  Their primary issue centers around a lack of star talent.  If that’s the case, moving down would decrease their likelihood of getting the absolute best player available, whether that ends up being Tunsil or Ramsey.  Perhaps the best thing for them to do is sit tight and just pick a really good player.