Tennessee Titans: Top five team needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

Defensive Lineman

It’s crazy how quickly a position can go from a perceived strength of a roster to a weakness that needs to be addressed. That is the case with the interior defensive line for the Tennessee Titans after the loss of five-time Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey.

The 30-year old veteran, Casey, was shockingly traded to the Denver Broncos this offseason for just a seventh-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Casey has long been the best and most consistent player on the Tennessee defense, making his departure a very big one for the Titans.

Just when you thought the Titans had one of the stoutest defensive fronts in the league with promising second-year player Jeffery Simmons recovered from injury and big DaQuan Jones wreaking havoc on centers, the loss of Casey creates a glaring hole for a versatile, well-rounded defender on the defensive line.

Casey did a little bit of everything for the Tennessee Titans. Primarily lining up as a 3-4 defensive end, Casey was effective against both the run and the pass, rarely leaving the field. He is a matchup nightmare no matter where he lines up. He can stand up and rush off the edge or anchor down and hold his own at nose if needed.

Casey was also a team captain and clear leader of the team and the defense. While the Tennessee Titans are unlikely to find a player to fill that role for them in the 2020 NFL Draft, they will have to find someone that can fill his shoes as a player.

This draft class isn’t loaded on the defensive line, so Robinson and Vrabel will have to do their homework and find someone that they think can fill that void effectively. I would guess that the team may opt for a defensive lineman like this in the middle rounds of the draft in hopes that they pan out as starting caliber.