Tennessee Titans: Jalen Ramsey the most sensible choice?

Most people have the Tennessee Titans giving Marcus Mariota another franchise offensive tackle in Laremy Tunsil or drafting the best player in the class in Joey Bosa, but it’s time to start taking Jalen Ramsey more seriously as an option with the first overall pick.

Mocking Jalen Ramsey to the Tennessee Titans isn’t a new idea by any means, but it is starting to become a more popular opinion. Bosa is the best defensive player in the class, but Ramsey might be even more valuable. Although cornerbacks Vernon Hargreaves III and Mackensie Alexander are widely viewed as prospects worthy of a top-ten selection, Ramsey’s well-rounded skill-set, versatility at corner and safety, and overall athleticism set him apart.

Ramsey is the type of player who can take the modern NFL by a storm, and the Titans have a massive need in the defensive backfield for a playmaker. Last season, they had one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, and this undermined the underrated work done by the likes of Jurrell Casey, Wesley Woodyard, Derrick Morgan, Brian Orakpo, and Avery Williamson in the team’s much-improved front seven.

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As a whole, the Titans were 25th in the NFL in net yards per pass attempt allowed, and they gave up 34 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. Burn prone and bereft of players who could make plays on the ball, the Titans needs at DB are only trumped by their holes at right tackle and running back.

Since RBs aren’t highly prioritized and the Titans could be better off picking up a veteran OT to pair with Taylor Lewan instead of taking a risk on a draft prospect (though Tunsil is evidently less risky than most tackle prospects), going with a defensive back at No. 1 is a real possibility. Indeed, if drafting Bosa as the “best player available” at No. 1, irrelevant of the fact that the Titans front seven is already the strength of this team, makes sense, then adding an almost-as-good defender with more playmaking ability at a bigger position of need should make at least as much sense on paper.

The likelihood of Ramsey being the selection at No. 1 has only increased, because the Titans have made a wise, if not obvious, personnel decision that helps clear the way for his arrival in the draft.

According to The Tennessean’s John Glennon, the Titans have parted ways with 31-year-old starting free safety Michael Griffin, and anybody who has been following the team over the past couple of seasons knows that his days as a top safety are well past him. Formerly a dominant playmaker with center-fielding ability, Griffin is now a major liability in the starting lineup.

But regardless of whether or not you think he’s still adequate despite his decline, you have to admit that he could have never justified his $6.5 million cap hit. Though the Titans aren’t in any danger of running against the gap, this talent-thin organization has to pinch every unnecessarily spent penny in order to drive after real difference-makers. Griffin hasn’t been that type of a player in quite some time, and he hasn’t defended ten passes in a single season since 2010.

Last year in free agency, the Titans found themselves a quality starting strong safety in Da’Norris Searcy, and there’s hope that Jason McCourty can right the ship. However, more help is undoubtedly needed for a defense that was near the league’s five worst in 2015, and Ramsey can provide that aid immediately (and cheaply).

Sep 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans free safety Michael Griffin (33) during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

I have absolutely no qualms with the Titans selecting Tunsil at No. 1, but I would challenge you to come up with a convincing argument for why Ramsey shouldn’t be in consideration.

Because of his tackling, ball skills, fluidity, vertical speed, physicality, and high football IQ, he looks like a safe prospect who could impact the Titans in a variety of critical ways, whereas Tunsil, despite being lauded as a polished prospect, plays a position where success is difficult to project at the NFL level.

Moreover, the Titans already have Lewan, and a cheaper way of protecting Mariota could be to add veterans at tackle and the interior of the offensive line (since Chance Warmack is the only starter worth locking in).

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Griffin’s unsurprising release only makes the dots easier to connect, but it is worth noting that it should be easier for Tennessee to find a good safety in free agency than a good offensive tackle.

There are still plenty of decisions to be made and plenty of dominos that must fall before now and the draft, but today’s decision by the front office only fuels the Ramsey rumors.

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