The Tennessee Titans took a risk with high upside cornerback Caleb Farley. Farley could be the best corner in this class if he stays healthy.
The Tennessee Titans had the 22nd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite the pick not being in a prime position, the team found itself with plenty of quality options to improve the team with the pick. The team went for upside at cornerback with Caleb Farley out of Virginia Tech.
Farley has the size and the skill the team has been looking for at the cornerback position. He also fills a need since the team no longer has Malcolm Butler or Adoree’ Jackson. Farley is 6-1 and 207 pounds and possesses elite ball skills.
He fits a Titans defensive scheme that likes to play a lot of single-man coverage with its cornerbacks. In time, he should be able to handle playing on an island with his length and above-average speed. He could be the answer to the team’s issues at the position.
The downside to Farley is just transitioned to corner from wide receiver in 2018. He excelled in 2019, but he opted out of the 2020 season. This means that Farley only has one above-average season on his college resume. He also struggled with tackling against the run which could become an issue at the pro level.
One season of excellent production and opting out of 2020 were not the biggest red flags for Farley. He is recovering from a back injury that required a microdiscectomy procedure. Most troubling is that this was his second procedure despite the fact that he did not play last season. If he can recover and not continue to have recurring issues, then this is a great pick for Tennesse.
Although there were other players the Titans could have picked, Caleb Farley could be a home run for the Titans. He has the size, speed, and instincts to be a true playmaking number one corner in the NFL.
If it were not for the concerns about his back, Farley could have been picked in the top 10 ahead of Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain. If it doesn’t work out, the Titans can think about the talent they missed out on. This pick should work and Farley may be starting by the end of his rookie season.