Mel Kiper 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Titans and Whitney Mercilus

Mel Kiper has put out his second mock draft of the year (In$ider), and this time he has the Titans taking Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois. This is not a pick that I am very excited about. As I said yesterday, the Titans are in desperate need of a pass rusher, but Wes Bunting said on MCM Radio that Mercilus was one of the most overrated players in this draft.

The biggest worry about Mercilus for me is that he only has one year or production. Now granted, he did rack up 16 sacks in that one year (2011), but he was only able to record one sack in 2010. One-year wonders always make me a little nervous.

Click through the jump to see what Kiper had to say about the pick:

They've devoted some draft attention to it in recent years, but the Titans' pass rush still needs help. Only Tampa Bay had more of a struggle getting to opposing passers last year. People talk about the quarterback situation in Tennessee, but I think it was the lack of a pass rush that kept the Titans (barely) out of the playoffs last year. Mercilus is, quite simply, a pass-rusher. I like his athleticism and uncanny ability to beat blockers. He needs a good combine to cement his status, but he could move even higher, and might be a good value here. The Titans need someone who can breathe on an opposing quarterback.

I would much rather see the Titans go with Kendall Wright if the draft plays out the way Kiper has it here.