Todd McShay 2-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Titans address secondary

ESPN’s Todd McShay is back in action this morning, delivering his first two-round mock draft of the 2021 draft season. With free agency now beginning to dry up a bit, we can really hone in on what each team needs going into next month.

For the Titans, that top need has now shifted to the perimeter — on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. In this mock, McShay attacked Tennessee’s secondary issues with their first two selections.

At pick No. 22, the Titans took cornerback Greg Newsome II.

Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

Tennessee could use reinforcements along the offensive line, but to me, this pick is all about either a pass-catcher or a cornerback. The Titans lost Corey Davis, Jonnu Smith, Adoree’ Jackson and Desmond King II from those positions in free agency. So let’s look at the board. LSU’s big receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. would be an option, but the better value falls with Newsome. He’s a shutdown corner who would fit nicely with Janoris Jenkins and Kristian Fulton in the Tennessee CB corps. But I’d like to see a few more interceptions.

Tough to poke any holes in this argument. The Titans let Adoree Jackson and Malcolm Butler walk, leaving them with Kristian Fulton and newly signed Janoris Jenkins. In today’s NFL, you better have a number of cornerbacks that you can toss into any situation. Newsome fits the bill for what the Titans need here, although production (one career interception) is a major question.

With cornerback being addressed first, wide receiver is the obvious need to fill next. However, with how the receiver board fell, McShay stuck with another secondary pick.

Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

Again without much receiver value on the board, the Titans continue to look to the secondary (they took Greg Newsome II in Round 1). Cisco had 13 interceptions over 24 career games and is a rangy, instinctive centerfielder.

Cisco holds 13 career interceptions at the college level and would be an interesting future piece that could help out in sub packages immediately.

The Titans will start Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker this fall. Dane Cruikshank and Matthias Farley are currently set to be the depth behind them. While it’s not the most pressing need, it’s not the worst position to address. Still, an offensive tackle, defensive lineman or another edge presence would seem to make more sense.

Receivers Rondale Moore, Rashod Bateman and Tutu Atwell were already selected in the second round, for those wondering.

Tennessee still has two third round picks (85th, 100th) to address the receiver position, which currently consists of A.J. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Cameron Batson.