NFL Mock Draft: A fresh two round projection for the Titans

The debate rages on.

Would the Titans take a tight end in the first round? You can make a decent case for the position being a need with the age of Delanie Walker, coupled with the fact that he’s coming off a tough injury. But is it that big of a need to address in the first round?

SBNation’s Dan Kadar thinks so.

19. Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Offseason needs: Guard, tight end, nose tackle, edge defender

When the season starts, stalwart tight end Delanie Walker will be 35 and coming off a dislocated and fractured ankle. In a talent-rich tight end draft, Fant could be in play at No. 19. He can work the middle of the field — which the Titans need with Marcus Mariota at quarterback — and he can line up out wide.

It’s probably important to note that Fant operated as Iowa’s ‘big slot’ last season. He’s not your traditional tight end, he’s more of a dynamic pass catcher — something the Titans definitely need more of.

The question is, can they afford to push off more obvious needs on the interior offensive line and defensive line? Signing another veteran to fill Tennessee’s opening at right guard would fill that need, but I’m not so sure you’ll see that happen. Furthermore, defensive line is a position that has been ignored for some time. DaQuan Jones and Austin Johnson are just average players in this league. Jurrell Casey needs more help and this draft sets up really nicely for the Titans to add him some.

Kadar came back in the second round to give the Titans defensive lineman Renell Wren out of Arizona State. So there’s your defensive line help, but you’ve still got an obvious and immediate need at guard.

Again, this could change, but it really feels like this is shaping up to be a draft where the Titans address both sides of the line of scrimmage with their early selections in this draft. Adding Fant would give Marcus Mariota another legitimate weapon, but it ignores too many immediate needs for me.