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

Round 5, Pick 150

Other players available: K’Von Wallace, DB, Clemson, Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State, Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas, Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF

Another one of those under-the-radar departures in free agency was scat-back Dion Lewis. Lewis struggled to stay on the field a bit in his Tennessee Titans career and saw his role reduced last season as Henry really took over as a dominant, feature back.

But a change-of-pace, third-down back who is capable of running between the tackles is an important piece to an offense like this one. Spelling Henry and giving him some rest, especially if the team is able to lock him into a more long-term deal, will be crucial to his health and longevity as a true number-one back.

Darrynton Evans is a near-perfect candidate for this role in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially in the fifth round. Evans ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine and ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons at Appalachian State, adding 18 rushing touchdowns in 2019.

Evans is very elusive in the open field and excels outside the tackles. In 2019 he began to be utilized more as a receiver out of the backfield, proving to be effective as a third-down back who should only develop further with more reps at the next level.

Evans will definitely be a great complement to Derrick Henry as a rookie for the Tennessee Titans, who could learn and develop into a legitimate feature back in the NFL. If Henry does not return after his franchise-tagged season, the Titans could get a real steal of a starting running back in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Round 5, Pick 175

Other players available: K’Von Wallace, DB, Clemson, Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State, Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF

While there isn’t a super clear position open for Hakeem Adeniji to slot into right away on the Tennessee Titans offensive line, he is too good of a player and too good of a fit to pass up on at this point in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Adeniji played left tackle for the Kansas Jayhawks and should be able to use a lot of what he learned at tackle with his practically inevitable move to the inside. Adeniji could play tackle at the next level, but with his size and power in the run game, he is a great fit at guard, or even center, in a gap run offense at the next level.

Even at tackle, Kansas asked Adeniji to perform a lot of move blocks. Pulls, getting out towards the boundary on screens… things that do not fit Adeniji’s game. He ran a respectable 5.17 40-yard dash at the combine and is capable of performing those move blocks on occasion, but he is best when he can move downhill and drive defenders back.

Adeniji is a legitimate people mover in the run game who uses his length, strong arms and powerful lower body to take control at the point of attack. With tackle experience to help him against quicker interior rushers in pass protection, I think Adeniji has the making of a top NFL guard.

Adeniji could compete with incumbent Nate Davis at right guard or fellow rookie Josh Jones at right tackle right away. Worst case scenario, he spends 2020 as a versatile depth option, competing with Dennis Kelly and Ty Sambrailo for the “sixth man” of the offensive line. Then he could take over at left guard once the Titans decide to move on from current left guard, 31-year-old, former Ram, Rodger Saffold.

Gabriel Davis could possibly go as early as day two of the 2020 NFL Draft. With impressive upside, when I saw he was still available in the sixth round I had to make a move. A gave up both of the Titans’ remaining seventh-round picks to move up into the sixth where the Rams were scheduled to pick at 200.

Davis is a very effective vertical threat who had an incredibly effective junior season with over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns at UCF. Some of these numbers were a bit inflated by the offense scheming him open rather frequently, but nonetheless, Davis got the job done and has some desirable traits for the next level.

He has solid size at 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, often winning jump balls and contested catches. He ran a somewhat disappointing 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine but shows decent speed down the field as a deep threat. He tracks the ball well and high points it at the point of the catch, with solid contact balance to come down and finish the play.

Davis didn’t run a very diverse route tree at UCF, but he won’t be asked to do that in Tennessee. With A.J. Brown, Adam Humphries and Corey Davis already in the fold, the addition of Gabriel Davis at this point in the 2020 NFL Draft would be a bit of a luxury for the Tennessee Titans. He would be effective down the field on go routes and a force with jump balls in the red zone while he learns and develops as a complete wide receiver in the NFL.