Tennessee Titans trade up for playmaker in 7-round 2020 mock draft
By John Laird
The 2020 NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away and the Tennessee Titans could get aggressive to get a playmaker, which they do in this mock draft.
The Tennessee Titans are fresh off of their most successful season since 2002, making it to the AFC Championship Game. Although their magical run came to a halt to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, there were definitely reasons for fans to get excited about the possibility of this team being a consistent contender moving forward.
General manager Jon Robinson has made it a priority of getting faster on the defensive front this off-season. Through the additions of Jack Crawford and Vic Beasley Jr., Robinson is certainly on his way towards achieving that. But with that said, there are certainly other positions the team is to address before the start of the season in September.
Although the offseason is far from over, the team’s needs are cornerback, wide receiver, third-down running back, defensive line, and back-up quarterback as it currently stands. Current reports state the Titans are in talks with bringing back veteran cornerback Logan Ryan, as well as the team being “all in” on acquiring Jadeveon Clowney, so those needs may be altered by the time the Titans are actually on the clock April 23.
Robinson has a history of being aggressive in the draft, whether that’s moving up or down. In his first draft as the general manager in 2016, Robinson dealt the number one overall pick for a slew of picks from the Los Angeles Rams. Then in 2018, he traded up with the Baltimore Ravens for the right to draft Rashaan Evans. Robinson has been anything but stagnant when it comes to the draft. And he isn’t stagnant here in this 7-round mock draft.
Trade Alert: Tennessee trades No. 29 and 93 to New England for No. 23.
Since New England is likely heading into somewhat of a rebuild, they decide to do business with a familiar face in Robinson, who used to work in the front office for the Patriots. New England decides dropping six spots in the first round is worth an extra Day 2 selection.
And with that 23rd pick, the Tennessee Titans decide to pull a somewhat surprising move in this scenario: selecting LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The team has a massive decision this summer on Corey Davis. The former fifth-overall pick has a team option that has to be decided on this summer. With the Titans seemingly being lukewarm on Davis, I would be surprised if the Titans were to pick up that fifth year on his deal. Davis hasn’t produced a like a top-five pick, and will not be worth the cap hit it takes to pick up that option.
Jefferson is a precise route runner with solid hands, exactly the type of player Robinson has loved to draft at the position. In a loaded wide receiver class, the Titans are extremely fortunate to have Jefferson fall this far.