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Tennessee Titans 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Let me start off by saying that grading a draft today is a little bit ridiculous.  We have no idea how any of these guys will pan out, but there are still some ways we can grade this draft that aren't as ridiculous.

Right now we will look at what they did to address their need positions.  I have to give them a B+ on that one.  The only thing that keeps them from getting an A here is the fact that they didn't take a corner until the 4th round, and when they finally took a corner it was a very questionable one.  Overall though I love the fact that they took a receiver in the first round.  We have seen a parade of middle round receivers in here over the past decade that never amounted to anything.  They took a flier on a guy that they were really impressed with, and I applaud them for that.  All of the reports I am hearing is that they were really high on Kenny Britt and Clay Matthews.  Had the Packers not traded up to get Matthews, there is a very good chance that he would have been the pick pick.  I know they need depth at linebacker, but I am really glad that we ended up with Britt instead.

The Sen'Derrick Marks pick was an interesting one.  Defensive tackle depth was a need, but I felt they had bigger needs that could have been addressed with the pick.  Marks is an athletic guy with a lot of upside so there is a good shot he will end up a very good player under the guidance of Jim Washburn.

The first really questionable move they pulled was trading next year's #2 to the Patriots to move up and take Jared Cook.  The move was questionable to me on two fronts:

  1. If I were an NFL GM, I would never make a deal with the New England Patriots.  In the words of August, "They always win."
  2. We didn't have a need at tight end.  We already have future Hall of Famer Bo Scaife there.

However, if Cook can become the player that we all hoped Ben Troupe would be, it will prove to have been a great move.  Vandy fans will remember Cook because he torched them in that Thursday night ESPN game last season.  He presents all kind of match-up problems and should open some things up for the running game.

Star-divide

Then comes the Ryan Mouton pick.  This is one of those picks that I really don't understand.  Mouton really only started for one season in college and had just 3 picks in his college career.  He also has durability concerns.  I am going on record right now that there is only a 20% chance that Mouton ends up being a better in NFL corner than D.J. Moore.

The Titans finally addressed their LB depth need in the 4th round when they took Gerald McRath.  McRath played inside linebacker in college, but from everything I have heard should be able to easily make the transition to outside linebacker.  I would assume the Titans took him because he was the best available linebacker on their board.

The next pick was Troy Kropog from Tulane.  He appears to be Daniel Loper part two. He played tackle in college but will probably be the back-up at tackle and guard for the Titans.  I have never heard of him, but Mike Munchak will coach him up.  i have no doubt he will be a solid player.

I was shocked to see the Titans pick a running back because they just never do that.  /sarcasm  Javon Ringer was an All-American last season.  It is never a bad thing to pick up one of those in the 5th round.  Ringer is a horse.  He carried the ball 635 times in his last 2 seasons at Michigan State and scored 22 touchdowns last season.  That is a lot.  He also catches the ball well out of the backfield.  Ringer obviously will not unseat Crazy Legs, but he is a good insurance policy for when The Round Mound walks after this season.  Say goodnight Chris Henry.

I like the Jason McCourty pick in the sixth.  He is really fast, 4.30, and was a return guy in college.  Sure he is a project, but a guy with that type of speed is worth picking up in the sixth round.

I alos really like the Dominique Edison pick in the sixth round.  August rained all over my Edison parade when he responded to my text message with "Is he Filani part 2?"  But hey, 6-2, 204, 4.45 in the sixth round is worth a shot.  He may not pan out, but at least he is really, really fast.

I don't know anything about the guys picked in the 7th round, but I bet we eventually see Ryan Durand playing meaningful minutes for this team.  I have that much confidence in Munchak.

With the exception of taking Mouton over Moore, I really like what they did with this draft.  I love that they finally took a receiver in the first round, and they did a good job addressing the needs with the rest of the picks.

0 recs  |  Comment 26 comments |

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Agree about Ryan Durand.

In my mind, I’ve already got him penciled into the Hall of Fame. That’s just how the Titans have been with those types of guys.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Apr 27, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey Jimmy

What do you think about Jevon Ringer? I didnt see him mentioned in the post.

by The Nasty One Lives on Apr 27, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Will get on that...

Sorry skipped over him

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Apr 27, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Updated

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Apr 27, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just don't get the whole Moore situation

I know I mentioned it before, and I sell insurance, not evaluate talent for the NFL, but how does Chris Henry get drafted in the second round after a non-existent college career and an awesome combine, but DJ Moore can’t get drafted after an college career shutting down SEC #1 receivers week after week but running a slow 40? Just doesn’t make sense.

What are we missing about him?

Official MCM Hater!

by gramsey712 on Apr 27, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The only thing I can figure is

as August said yesterday, the ankle is worse off than we know.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Apr 27, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

gotta be an injury

teams avoided him like the plague in the 3rd round

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 27, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't even think about that. But I haven't heard anything about him being injured.

I think Tuna is right though. He’ll turn out to be a steal.

Official MCM Hater!

by gramsey712 on Apr 27, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

unless he's just damaged goods

9 corners were taken in the 3rd round with DJ on the board.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 27, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

hahaha

“We didn’t have a need at tight end. We already have future Hall of Famer Bo Scaife there.”

not quite . . .

We definitely were looking to upgrade the TE position before the draft began – We got a STEAL in Cook, who is more physical than other top speed TE’s in the league.

Does anyone remember fumbling the ball in the Baltimore game?! Why wouldn’t you push to make the position more competitive?

Great job by the titans!

by kazukirecords on Apr 27, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i think the cook trade was smart

we got a guy this year, whom fisher had pegged as a 2nd rounder, for next year’s 2nd round pick. ask any economics major about present discounted value and you will understand why it’s a good value move, even without considering that crumpler’s corpse probably runs a 5.8 40 at this point, and bo scaife is being whiny about his contract.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 27, 2009 11:01 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Pipeline

I second your enthusiasm. Line up cook wide on one side and britt on the other and you have our first credible redzone threat. Safeties will have to look to help over the top. VY one on one with SAM or WILL. TDs whenever you want em.
Enough daydreaming. Looking to 2010 draft, there is no one with Cook’s physical tools. Interestingly, next draft will be chock full of CBs.

by helpVY on Apr 27, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

How about...

Line him up in a 2 TE set, audible him to one slot and CJ to the other. You couldn’t cover that formation with a carpet bomb. This dude gives ’Dinger some options.

by joshuaboone on Apr 27, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm honestly thrilled with the Jared Cook pick.

I watched the kid play all season in ‘08 for South Carolina and thought he looked like a solid future NFL player. He made my Ole Miss Rebels look like fools this past season in our game. I think that he’s got the potential to be one of the big time TEs in this league. And the speed is incredible.

by B-Rizzle on Apr 27, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

OUR Ole Miss Rebels

Yeah, I watched that game as well, and I think he could potentially be great. Not much for blocking, but he could be instrumental in moving the chains.

by wayned on Apr 27, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

britt, marks, cook, and mcrath all have boom/bust potential

it’s interesting to see that we went this route (high risk, high reward) but i like it since we don’t have any huge glaring needs and can afford to take some risks.
just to clarify, i think they are more boom/bust than a pick like ringer where you pretty much know what you are going to get.

by rolypoly32 on Apr 27, 2009 2:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

linemen almost never bust in tennessee

i would have doubts about marks if i didn’t know what i know about washburn. same with cook— his only issue is blocking, and we got a darn good blocking teacher.

i still don’t know what to think about britt.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 27, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agreed

i guess with marks, a bust would be more: he is average.
i actually love the pick because he looks like another jason jones type. more athletic than sheer size and high motor.
i have my doubts about cook. looks (and plays) more like an oversized wr than a te.

by rolypoly32 on Apr 27, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

funny

i love that he is like an oversized WR, because we have stephens, who is really more of an undersized tackle to go with him. he’s a big athletic guy, i bet munch will make him at least as good of a blocker as wycheck was.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 27, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

absolutely

OUR OLE MISS REBELS is right ;) lol Glad to see some Oxford-friendly Titans fans on here!

by kazukirecords on Apr 27, 2009 5:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Freaking 5 months man...

 at least my Cav’s will keep me busy winning the finals. After that? Maybe take up needle point? Perhaps start a stamp collection? NFL really needs a minor league to keep me occupied during this time….

"the views displayed by Mr.Norhtnashville in no way reflect the views of more mature Titan fans. Viewer discretion is advised. Loser.

by MrNorhtNashville on Apr 27, 2009 5:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yes i know

I thought that immediately after the draft too. Argghhhhh….. now that wait!

by numbertenox on Apr 27, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good quote about the risk in Britt
Britt has Michael Irvin confidence, which could lapse into Keyshawn Johnson arrogance or Chad Johnson eccentricity if unchecked.

From Tanier at FO

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 27, 2009 5:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yawn.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Apr 28, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

is that defense adjusted arrogance?

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 28, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also

that arrogance will be checked on this team, have no doubt about that.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Apr 28, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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