2017 NFL Draft Grades: Tennessee Titans Day 2 Picks

Round 3, Pick 100: Jonnu Smith, TE – Florida International

Robinson wasn’t done in his pursuit of weapons for the offense, however. With their third-round compensatory pick, the Titans looked to the future at tight end and selected Jonnu Smith out of Florida International. In doing so, they add a raw player to the offense, but one that could develop into a massively important piece for them and is in the right situation to do so.

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Many people circled tight end as a potential mid-round need for the Titans and that was obviously the case in this instance. The need derives from the fact that Delanie Walker, the team’s reliable current starter, is 32 years old right now. He’s still effective in a major way and may have been Mariota’s most reliable receiving threat in 2016. However, his physical skills will surely start to deteriorate far before Mariota won’t need a strong tight end to anchor the offense.

Thus, the addition of Smith is made in the interest of the future of the position. Smith has nice pass-catching skills and a massive frame at 6-3, 248 pounds. If and when he sees the field in the 2017 season, it’ll largely be as a receiver coming off of the line. The Titans love two-tight end sets to sell the run and Smith will see time in that regard. However, where Tennessee and certainly Walker will need to work with the FIU product is in his blocking.

Smith has the frame to be a force as a blocker on the end of the line, but doesn’t possess the functional strength and technique necessary to do so. With that said, he’s coming into a spot where he’ll have the right environment to learn. That will be huge for him and help him a great deal in his progression.

The fact that the Titans could still use depth at linebacker and at other areas of the defense knocks this grade a little, especially with a player like Anthony Walker Jr. still left on the board. With that said, Smith has tremendous potential in a spot where the Titans need it. He may not be a star right away, but he’ll have the proper tutelage in Tennessee to reach the levels he has the tools to.