Todd McShay 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Three Rounds

ESPN’s Todd McShay released a three round NFL Mock Draft today, billed as a “what I would do” type projection. It featured a new idea for the Titans at pick 25, too.

McShay gave the Titans the following players in the first three rounds.

25. OL, Connor Williams, Texas

57. Edge, Sam Hubbard, Ohio State

89. WR, Deon Cain, Clemson

Here’s his explanation for his selections for the Titans.

A knee injury derailed Williams’ final season at Texas, but he’s an athletic offensive lineman. A left tackle in college, he may move to the right side or inside due to short arms. He’d be good depth after Jack Conklin’s ACL tear. Hubbard is a high-motor defense end who could help Tennessee’s pass rush. Cain has made strides as a route runner and tested well at the combine. He could become an effective No. 2 wideout in time.

The new idea here is Williams at 25. McShay notes that Williams may be forced to move inside due to his lack of length. The only problem is that the Titans don’t have an obvious opening up front. They may have to wait a few games on Jack Conklin, but I don’t think you spend the 25th pick on depth.

If you take Williams that high, you’re taking him to play guard — likely for Quinton Spain. The Titans retained Spain after he tested the market as a restricted free agent this year. Competition has been brought in behind him in the form of Xavier Su’a-Filo and Kevin Pamphile.

Taking Williams would essentially be giving up on Spain, but this staff and front office clearly value him less than I think we all thought they did.

McShay has the Titans grabbing Sam Hubbard at 57, who we’ve discussed as a very real option for the 25th pick. Personally, this is where I think Hubbard should go. I don’t think he’s a game-changer, but he’s going to be a solid guy who does his job. The popular comparison for Hubbard is Derrick Morgan, which I think fits very well.

The Titans come back with the 89th pick to select Deon Cain, a 6-2 receiver with legitimate 4.4 speed. He’s a guy that flashed at Clemson, but never really morphed into that No. 1 guy like everyone thought he would. Cain was never able to break 1,000 yards at Clemson, which may scare off Jon Robinson who has proven to value production. However, Cain would add a downfield threat with size that I’m not sure Tennessee currently has. It makes sense for the Titans to target another playmaker in the middle rounds.

One note here: Boston College pass rusher Harold Landry falls to No. 37 overall in this mock.