2021 NFL Mock Draft: Zach Wilson rises to Jets at No. 2 in 3-round projection
By Randy Gurzi
EDGE. Jaelan Phillips. player. Pick Analysis. Miami. 22. 35. Scouting Report
Jadeveon Clowney was signed by the Tennessee Titans last year after spending much of the offseason waiting for someone to give him the long-term deal he wanted. When that didn’t happen, he took the one-year deal with the Titans where he rejoined forces with Mike Vrabel, who was one of his defensive coaches during his time with the Houston Texans.
To say Clowney’s tenure with the Titans was a disappointment would be an understatement. The former No. 1 overall pick missed half the season with a knee injury but was largely ineffective in the eight games he did play. Clowney finished with just 19 tackles with zero sacks.
He’s likely to head elsewhere in the offseason and the Titans will look to the draft for another edge rusher to play opposite Harold Landry. With the 22nd pick, they find that player in Miami’s Jaelan Phillips. A transfer from UCLA, Phillips broke out in 2020 with 45 tackles and eight sacks.
That came after he had just 41 tackles and 4.5 sacks in two seasons with the Bruins before deciding to pack up and head east to join the Hurricanes.
This breakout campaign helped him go from a potential day two target to someone who just misses the top-20 of this mock.