2011 Tennessee Titans Draft Needs
Written by Steve Janus
The Tennessee Titans were 5-2 after their first seven games in 2010, but really struggled down the stretch. They ended up winning just one of their final nine games to finish 6-10. The poor finish prompted ownership to fire head coach Jeff Fisher after a long tenure in Tennessee, and replace him with Mike Munchak. With a solid running game and tough defense the Titans could compete in 2011, but a lot will have to go right for this team to have a successful season.
Tennessee suffered some bad luck with 2010 first round pick Derrick Morgan only playing in four games before going down with an ACL injury. Outside of wide out Marc Mariani, who was one of the top returners in the league, the 2010 draft class didn’t provide much of spark last season.
Tennessee comes into the 2011 draft with the No. 8 pick. They will without question have a chance to improve their team with this pick, but will also need to hit on some of their later picks as well. Here is a look at the five positions I feel the Titans need to address.
Quarterback: Vince Young isn’t expected to a member of this team for much longer. The Titans are hoping to trade Young, but will more than likely release him if they can’t find a suitor. That leaves veteran Kerry Collins as the only quarterback on the roster that can help this team. Tennessee will have a hard time passing on Blaine Gabbert of Missouri if he falls to them at No. 8, but if he is off the board look for them to take the best available with their second round pick. Find out who we have the Titans taking in the first round in our 2011 NFL Mock draft.
Defensive Line: Getting Morgan back will definitely help this team at defensive end, but Jason Babin, Dave Ball, and Jacob Ford are all free agents. Inside, the Titans have been able to plug just about anyone at defensive tackle and get results. I feel the bigger need is to find a pass rusher on the outside, but it will be hard for Tennessee to pass on a player like Alabama’s defensive tackle Nick Fairley if he is still on the board. If Fairley is gone when they pick in the first round, look for them to take North Carolina’s defensive end Robert Quinn.
Offensive Guard: The Titans have one of the best running backs in the game in Chris Johnson, but in order for him to be at his best they need to add some help up front. Depending on who they get with their first pick, Tennessee could take Georgia guard Clint Boling if he falls to them in the second, or wait and address this need in the later rounds.
Linebacker: While the Titans’ bigger need is at middle linebacker, they could also use some help on the outside. Starting middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch is a free agent, and it might be hard for the Titans to convince him to stay. Look for Tennessee to use their fourth round pick on someone like Casey Matthews of Oregeon or Colin McCarthy of Miami.
Wide Receiver: Randy Moss won’t be back next season, and Kenny Britt has recently found himself in trouble with the law. The Titans were already thin at this position and it may be time for them to lock down a starter to help this team right away. If Alabama’s Julio Jones is still on the board at No. 8, I think the Titans will have a hard time passing him up. If they feel their other needs are too big to take a receiver in the first, look for them to take a shot on someone like Miami’s Leonard Hankerson or North Carolina’s Greg Little in the third.
Individual NFL Team Mock Drafts
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