The Tennessee Titans had their worst season in 2015 coming off a three-win season. The Titans and the Cleveland Browns both finished with three wins, but due to Cleveland beating Tennessee in Week 2 28-14, they were able to claim the number one pick even with an atrocious season.
Titans have made several off-season changes to help the team throughout the future years. The Titans decided to release their general manager, Ruston Webster, who has been with the team for four years under the same position.
On Jan. 15 2016, national news hit in the NFL when the Titans decided to hire Jon Robinson as their new general manager. Robinson was previously with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the director of player personnel.
The very next day, the Titans decided on hiring their interim head coach from this past season, Mike Mularkey. Mularkey finished the 2015 season with a 2-7 record after replacing former head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
On Feb. 9, 2016, the Titans parted ways with 2007 first-round pick Michael Griffin. Griffin was the starting free safety for all nine years with the Titans.
With the release of Griffin, the Titans are starting to prepare for their first number one overall draftee ever in their history. The Titans, previously known as the Houston Oilers, had multiple number one draft picks with the last occurring in 1978 with running back Earl Campbell, now in the Hall Of Fame. Maybe history will repeat itself with this year’s pick.
There are numerous options that the Titans can take with the first pick. Will Tennessee trade the pick or will they keep it for themselves? In the most recent Mock Draft by Mel Kiper on ESPN.com, Kiper has the Titans picking offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil from the University of Ole Miss. Another name that’s been in the works is defensive end Joey Bosa from Ohio State University.
Coming off last year’s draft, with the Titans selecting quarterback Marcus Mariota, they need a big body to help protect their franchise quarterback, and Tunsil would be a huge upside for their offensive line.
Bosa is ranked as the best player on the board, and that’s why Bosa and the Titans have been paired up in numerous mock drafts. The Titans had a strong defense this past year, ranking in the top 10 in overall defense for the majority of the year, thanks to assistant defensive coordinator Dick Lambau. Derrick Morgan and Jurrell Casey, among others, are good enough to keep the defensive line hungry for sacks this year. Bosa is a highly talented prospect coming out of college, but I believe he’s not the right fit for the Titans.
Many mock drafts claim that Tennessee needs help on the defense, but protecting Mariota needs to be their number one focus and I certainly agree.
If I were in charge of the Titans, I would consider all my options with players and possible trades. I would trade the picks for a seasoned veteran and a few draft picks.
Robinson has done very well in the draft when he was with the Patriots, drafting players like Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Jerrod Mayo. If he can have any success like he did in New England, the Titans will be a successful team.
Now, that is not to say that they will be competing like the Patriots in a few years, but hiring Robinson is definitely a wonderful start.
Will the Titans have a successful draft class or will they be the Titans we all know and love, and draft players that will retire in four years? *cough* Jake Locker.
The clock will start on April 28th, 2016. The first pick in the 2016 NFL draft is…..
