2019 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys turn the page, Raiders find pass rushers
By Randy Gurzi
16. Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
With all due respect to Marcus Mariota, the Tennessee Titans could look to move on from him this offseason. Without a decent option outside of him — sorry Blaine Gabbert — the best way to do this would be through the draft.
Mariota isn’t a bad player by any means, but he’s just wildly inconsistent. One day he can look like an All-Pro, whereas the next he can struggle to get 100 yards passing. On top of that, injuries have been a constant struggle with the former No. 2 overall pick out of Oregon.
However, they did just pick up the fifth-year option on him before this season, so they avoid a first-round quarterback here. Instead, the Titans look for a replacement for Delanie Walker — who has been Mariota’s favorite target.
Walker, 34 years old, isn’t going to play much longer and is spending this season on IR after dislocating his ankle. With just one more year on his deal after this season, it would make sense to have him spend a season working with a rookie like Noah Fant out of Iowa.
This tight end class isn’t especially great, but Fant is a red zone threat who had 11 touchdowns in 2017 for the Hawkeyes and is off to a great start with them in 2018 with four scores in the first four games.