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The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Joey Bosa is regarded by many to be the best player in this draft. There is no doubt that he could help the Titans. Should they pull the trigger on Bosa? Here is a closer look:
Size: 6-6, 275
Position: Edge Defender
School: Ohio State (Junior)
Production: 26 sacks, 144 total tackles, 51 tackles for loss in three seasons as a starter.
Positives
- Lengthy, bulky frame. Long arms to keep blockers away from his body.
- Extremely capable against the run. Teams had to scheme around Bosa's presence.
- Sets the edge against the run nearly every chance he gets, funneling the run game back inside.
- Great hand/arm usage. Has strong hands that allow him to disengage.
- Above average upper body strength.
- Controlling figure. Can plant himself in a gap and shed whichever way he needs.
- Wins with power when pass rushing. Generates lots of force from his upper body.
- Versatile pass rusher. Can win inside or outside.
Negatives
- Inconsistent explosion off of the line of scrimmage.
- Lacks some quickness, quick-twitch ability.
- Struggles at times to "turn the corner" and get around tackles.
- Suspended for the 2015 opener, rumored (never confirmed) to be "academics or marijuana" related. Not a huge deal either way.
Examples
This is how Bosa wins. Power. He dismantles this Penn State guard and gets to the passer.
This is what Bosa does best. This is why teams didn't run at Bosa much this season. Watch him extend, gain leverage and shed.
Overview
Bosa's blend of power, length and versatility makes him a very tempting option for the Titans at the top of the 2016 NFL Draft. One thing to watch as we dig into the draft process is which direction the Titans go defensively. Bosa can play in both a 3-4 or 4-3, but he naturally fits the 4-3 end role. If the new regime decides to go back to the 4-3 route, I think it increases Bosa's chances of landing in Nashville.
I think Bosa ends up being an annual ten sack guy in the league, but his impact will be greater against the run. In 2015, teams made a point to run away from him. If they ran near him, they usually dedicated multiple bodies to him. Bosa's sack numbers were down from 2014, but he received a lot more attention in 2015 than he did in 2014. Don't let the sack numbers fool you -- Bosa was disruptive, but he was schemed out of plays. His ability against the run matched with his power off the edge will have him off the board very quickly this spring.
Round grade: 1st (Top 10)
Expected range: Top 5