Tennessee Titans: Elijah Molden will be crucial to the secondary
After seeing both Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson depart this offseason, the Tennessee Titans were due for an overhaul in the secondary. They signed Janoris Jenkins to be the veteran presence, and are likely expecting a jump from second-year corner Kristian Fulton. However, they weren’t done addressing the secondary there.
The Tennessee Titans selected two defensive backs during the first two days of the 2021 NFL Draft. They selected Caleb Farley in the first round, who has loads of potential, but is still relatively new to the position and has injury concerns. Then, Tennessee selected Elijah Molden, a versatile defensive back, in the third round.
Of the two, Elijah Molden could be more crucial to the Tennessee Titans’ success in the secondary.
It starts with the versatility as mentioned above. Molden was a stalwart in the slot for the Washington Huskies, logging 1,158 of his 1,559 career snaps at the position. However, he moved around to play some snaps at safety and a few on the outside. In a secondary that needs help in the slot, Molden can come in and contribute right from the get go.
When the film goes on with Molden, the traits stand out immediately. Yes, many may get turned off by his size, but he more than makes up for it. Molden has such quick transitions in coverage and rarely ever wastes motion. He’s physical when pressing and at the top of routes, and has no problem coming up to play the run. The difference with Molden on tape is his high football IQ and great instincts. He has a great feel for where he needs to be on every snap. His spatial awareness in coverage is great, and he gets a good read on the quarterback while maintaining his composure in coverage.
Molden will have a great feel for the game in his transition to the NFL, but obviously the speed of the game ramps up a bit. Still, while he makes that adjustment, there’s no reason that he can’t come in and make an impact on special teams and in the slot from day one with his skill set and demeanor. Molden could be an x-factor from day one for the Tennessee Titans and help get the defense, and more importantly, the secondary back on track.