Tennessee Titans: Rashaan Evans an Avery Williamson replacement?
The Tennessee Titans saw Avery Williamson leave in free agency, leaving a hole in their defense. Could Rashaan Evans replace him after the 2018 NFL Draft?
Despite the Tennessee Titans defense having an overall up-and-down year in the 2017 season, there were a few constants. One such player was linebacker Avery Williamson. He was a force in the middle of their defense, and a player clearly with a bright future still ahead. However, he won’t be around for the 2018 season.
Williamson chose to test the waters of free agency this offseason, landing with the New York Jets. That’s a smart add for a Jets defense that lacked a player who can fly around at linebacker and make plays stopping the run. For the Titans though, it leaves them with a gaping hole at the position and no one obvious on the roster to fill it.
Subsequently, it would stand to reason that the Titans will look to the 2018 NFL Draft to fill that hole. However, after making the playoffs and winning in the Wild Card Round, they’ll be picking at No. 25 in the first round. At that position, it would take a drastic turn of events for the top linebackers in the draft, Tremaine Edmunds and Roquan Smith, to fall to them.
Having said that, one guy who is a possibility to still be on the board when the 25th pick is being made is Alabama’s Rashaan Evans. And though he might not be as highly graded as Edmunds and Smith, he could be a perfect replacement for Williamson in the Tennessee defense.
While Williamson sometimes struggled in coverage, his biggest attribute that he gave to the Titans was his ability to move sideline-to-sideline and stifle opposing run games. Evans has the speed and athleticism to provide the same type of player to the defense. What’s more, he proved when healthy for the Crimson Tide to have a nice feel for the game in terms of play diagnosis and getting after the football.
What makes Evans even more attractive is that he has the physical tools to perhaps develop into a better overall backer than Williamson, specifically as it pertains to his ability when dropping into coverage. He’s not great in that aspect now, but has promise to develop further as he gets his feet wet in the league.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Post-free agency 3 rounds
The Titans have a few needs they could address early in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, with the departure of Williamson, the need at linebacker is paramount. And if Evans is there for them to grab on Day 1, they’d have to have a superb reason to pass him up.