Tennessee Titans 2020 NFL Draft: Filling FA losses in 7-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 29

Other players available: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU  and A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans had the option to address a couple of different positions vacated in free agency with how things played out in this mock. They could take one of the top and most promising tackles in the draft, or they had their choice of multiple very solid cornerbacks available.

With the potential loss of Logan Ryan, cornerback is a huge need and was very tempting. I’d guess Jeff Gladney is off the board before the Titans pick in the real 2020 NFL Draft, so he was strongly considered as a steal at this point in the first round. Terrell is another very productive and intriguing corner option, but ultimately, Josh Jones is just too good to pass on.

I agree with most evaluators that the top four offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft are clearly the top tier. But unlike some others, I have Josh Jones as a very clear OT5 who is not far off from those top four.

Jones is such a well-rounded tackle that I really think he could fill out a legitimate top five of tackles that are really head-and-shoulders above the rest. As Pro Football Focus has pointed out, Jones was one of the best pass blockers in all of college football in 2019.

But despite his impressive pass-blocking grades, Jones is noted for his dominance in the run game. He moves well and dominates at the point of attack, driving defenders back or turning them to open up holes for his backs. He is an effective mover who can get out in space, in the hole as a lead blocker or to the next level to open up things in the run game.

Although Jones played left tackle at Houston, he should fill in rather nicely on the right side for the Titans. His dominance in the run game will help the Titans continue to run the ball effectively with Derrick Henry, and his pass protection prowess will have to be good enough to fill the hole left by the Jack Conklin loss.

I believe that Conklin’s value to the Tennessee offense cannot be overstated, so bringing in a serviceable replacement should be a priority for GM Jon Robinson and the Tennessee Titans. There are some options that may be available in round two, but if a guy like Jones is still on the board at pick 29, I think it’s a no-brainer for the Titans.

Round 2, Pick 61

Other players available: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU, Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech, Jonathan Greenard, EDGE Florida, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

As we get to the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft in this mock, we see that one of those other options is, in fact, available. Lucas Niang out of TCU is a player that I think we certainly be in consideration at 29 if it weren’t for some durability concerns. A pairing of Gladney and Niang may be a great scenario for the Titans, but Jones was too good to pass up, and the pick here is no slouch.

Justin Madubuike is someone that I consider one of “my guys” in the 2020 NFL Draft. I am higher on him than most evaluators and think he can be a very viable starter in a variety of schemes in the NFL.

Madubuike has the quickness to play out towards the edge a bit as a 3-4 defensive end, and the strength and block shedding ability to line up heads-up against a blocker as a two-gapper in the Tennessee Titans defense.

With an impressive combine, Madubuike displayed is athleticism. On tape, he excels at taking on blockers, using his length and strong hands to keep them at bay, then disengaging and making a play. He has a great motor, and the longer a play goes the better chance he has of finding the ball and getting to it.

Although I like Maduike’s fit best as a 4-3 defensive tackle who can play the three-technique, he can try to fill the void left by Jurrell Casey as a versatile 3-4 defensive end on the other side of the line across from last year’s pick, Jeffery Simmons.

Madubuike, nor any other rookie, could really fill Casey’s shoes. But the Tennessee Titans will need someone that can play that position nonetheless. They brought in Crawford form the Falcons, but the upside just isn’t there. Madubuike could become a very impressive pro as he continues to grow and develop in the NFL.