Tennessee Titans reach for Isaiah Wilson in 2020 NFL Draft
In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans reach to fill the shoes of Jack Conklin with Georgia right tackle Isaiah Wilson.
To this point in the offseason, the Tennessee Titans have been busy locking up a couple of their own key players from a deep playoff run a season ago. Now, they turn their attention to the 2020 NFL Draft to bring in pieces that will put them over the top.
General manager John Robinson opted to place the franchise tag on NFL leading rusher, Derrick Henry while giving quarterback Ryan Tannehill a four-year, $118 million contract extension. While both players played vital roles in the team’s 2019 success, the money they invested in them led to some key departures as well.
Among the players that have not returned to the Tennessee Titans are former All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin, perennial Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey, veteran tight end Delanie Walker and outstanding slot corner Logan Ryan.
To begin plugging some of those holes vacated by their free agency departures, the Tennessee Titans selected Isaiah Wilson, offensive tackle, Georgia with the 29th overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Isaiah Wilson will fill the shoes of Jack Conklin at right tackle, the position he played at Georgia. Wilson will allow the Tennessee Titans to play the same brand of football they did a season ago: smash-mouth, downhill, physical running on offense.
I have said that Wilson is like The Incredible Hulk playing football. He is 6-foot-6 and 350 lbs. When he is able to get his powerful hands on his opponent, he clearly has the size and strength to dominate.
But too often, Wilson gets beat because of a lack of technique. In pass protection, he needs to improve his footwork and hand placement. Even in the run game, Wilson gets stood up too often for my liking and doesn’t take control as he should at his size.
With Houston’s Josh Jones still on the board, as well as a few very good cornerbacks, I really question this move for the Tennessee Titans. I do not view Wilson as anywhere near a first-round pick and think that this is a big reach by GM John Robinson.
While Wilson fits the scheme and style of play that head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith want to do on offense with a physical runner like Derrick Henry, he is not ready to play right away and will be a liability in pass protection.
You can read more about Wilson, as well as some other offensive line prospects here. Be sure to tune back in tomorrow for instant analysis on every Tennessee Titans selection in rounds two and three on day two of the 2020 NFL Draft.