Well, here we are again, drawing up another seven-round mock draft for the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 23 to April 25.
While this pre-draft process is no doubt a fun one, there’s nothing like the real thing. Thankfully, we’ll finally have some answers as to who the Titans will pick in a matter of days.
In this version, we’re going to go back to using The Draft Network’s simulator to see what we come up with.
Let’s get this show on the road.
Round 1
Pick No. 29: Jeff Gladney | CB | TCU
If we were to point to a consensus first-round pick among Titans fans, Gladney would almost certainly be the guy.
The Titans need to start looking to the future at the cornerback position this year, so adding Gladney is the ideal choice at No. 29. He’d provide excellent depth in Year 1 and could take over for Malcolm Butler, who could get cut in 2021 because of his huge contract, in Year 2.
Round 2
Pick No. 61: Marlon Davidson | DL/EDGE | Auburn
If Davidson somehow falls to this spot, it would be one of the biggest steals of the draft. I don’t think he will, but when the mock draft simulator hands you lemons, you make lemonade.
Davidson was a stand up outside linebackers for the Tigers last season, but projects more as a defensive lineman at the next level. He’d be a perfect fit to take the role that Jurrell Casey played last season.
Davidson is solid against the run and his sneaky athleticism for a big man (6-foot-3, 303 pounds) and versatility makes him a dangerous pass-rusher, both inside and out.
Round 3
Pick No. 93: Matt Peart | OT | UConn
This is another pick where I couldn’t click the “draft” button fast enough.
Peart will likely be a third-round pick, but in this day and age where good tackles come at a premium, I’m not so sure he falls this far. If so, this would be yet another steal for the Titans.
The UConn product is a massive human being (6-foot-7, 318 pounds) who started all 48 games for the Huskies during his college career.
Despite his immense size, Peart has the athleticism to fit in nicely in the Titans’ zone-blocking scheme. He’s raw and needs time to develop, but that’s OK with Dennis Kelly set to start on the right side of the line for 2020.
Round 5
Pick No. 174: Kindle Vildor | CB | Georgia Southern
The slot corner position for Tennessee is still up in the air at the moment. Logan Ryan remains unsigned and we still don’t know if the plan is to have Amani Hooker, who was an elite slot corner in college, replace him.
If the plan isn’t for Ryan to return and Hooker isn’t the heir-apparent, then drafting a second corner who can play the slot might be necessary.
Vildor is a guy who can do just that, and the Titans are familiar with him after having held a pre-draft visit with the Georgia Southern product at the NFL Combine.
Round 7
Pick No. 224: Joe Reed | WR | Virginia
If nothing else, the Titans could use a deep threat for 2020. Reed offers that with his speed, and he also has the size necessary to be an outside receiver. Adding to his value, Reed was an electric returner in college.
Pick No. 237: Rico Dowdle | RB | South Carolina
I’d prefer the Titans not wait this long to take a running back, but it just worked out this way with this particular mock.
Even still, Dowdle is an intriguing prospect to land this late in the draft, as he’s a solid runner and is already a polished pass-catcher right out of college. His frame lends to him being good in pass protection, also.
Pick No. 243: Bryce Perkins | QB | Virginia
If Tennessee is going to take a quarterback in the seventh round, it might as well swing for the fences. Perkins needs a lot of work to become a quality NFL quarterback, however his ridiculous speed and athleticism gives hope that he can be a dangerous dual-threat signal-caller.
Mock 4.0 review
There aren’t many ways this mock could have gone any better, perhaps with the exception of there being a running back worth taking in the fifth round, which there wasn’t.
The Titans get their man in Gladney, a future starting cornerback, and fill the hole on the defensive line with Davidson, at slot corner with Vildor, and they add a potential future starting right tackle with Peart.
I think Dowdle is one heck of a consolation prize in the seventh round if the Titans don’t land a running back earlier, and both Perkins and Reed have some upside for late-round picks.
This might be my favorite mock yet.
