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ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper are back this morning with a fresh, two round dueling mock draft. So far, we’ve seen the two analysts give the Titans defensive line or tight end help. Today, Kiper stuck to his guns, while McShay veered off the path to a different name.
Here are the picks at No. 19 for Tennessee.
Kiper: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Lawrence needs to go to a team that plays a 3-4 defense -- he’s the best nose tackle in the class -- and this is right about where I expect him to get picked.
McShay: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
This might be a little early for Brown, but he’s the best receiver in the class -- when healthy. A trio of Brown, Corey Davis and Adam Humphries looks pretty good.
As we wrote last week, taking a 6-4, 342 pound nose tackle in the first round doesn’t seem to be something Jon Robinson would do. He’s filled that role with free agent band-aids over the past few seasons. The Titans just don’t have a nose tackle on the field for the majority of their defensive snaps.
The Marquise Brown selection may fill a need for the Titans, but it’s pretty risky. Brown, a 5-9, 166 pound speedster, underwent surgery for a Lisfranc injury earlier in the draft process. The injury caused him to miss the NFL Combine and has added concern to his already small frame.
In an “all-in” type season for Marcus Mariota, taking a small, already injured receiver isn’t something I’m particularly interested in.
Round 2
Kiper: Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Samuel impressed at the Senior Bowl and had a good combine workout, but he had injury issues in college. The Titans need more playmakers for Marcus Mariota, even after adding Adam Humphries.
McShay: Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
Jones’ high motor would be a strong complement to Jurrell Casey inside. He excels as a 3-technique tackle.
So both McShay and Kiper went WR-DL, just in opposite order of each other. While it’s tough to argue with a guy like Deebo at pick 51, this mock totally ignores the Titans’ most immediate need — offensive line. Jon Robinson doesn’t have an answer at right guard right now and it’s tough to imagine him ignoring the position in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
Both analysts have Garrett Bradbury going in the late first round, while Chris Lindstrom went at 18 and 21. To me, either of those players would be better selections than Brown or Lawrence by a good distance.