Now that the Dion Lewis experiment has failed, the Tennessee Titans should be looking to address their need at running back at some point this offseason, whether that be in free agency, the 2020 NFL Draft, or both.
Tennessee was lacking a sufficient secondary option behind Derrick Henry last season, and as a result he was forced to handle a ridiculous workload that led to him leading the NFL in carries — and rushing yards — in 2019.
Granted, Henry is in the kind of physical shape where he can handle it, but an excessive workload also opens him up to injuries more. The Titans need to have an effective “Plan B” to take some of the pressure off their star back.
Not to mention, Henry isn’t exactly an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield, so being able to run the football well isn’t the only quality the Titans should be looking for in a back.
Luckily, there are some intriguing players at the position available in the 2020 NFL Draft — it just depends on what round general manager Jon Robinson chooses to take his back.
With that said, here’s a look at a back the Titans could nab in every round they have a pick based on their draft position in each.
Round 1
D’Andre Swift | Georgia
Under no circumstances should the Titans use a first-round pick on a running back when the team has bigger needs to fill, but if this is the path they choose, Swift is the best of the bunch.
Not only is he an effective runner between the tackles and to the outside, he’s also a polished pass-catcher that could contribute on third downs right away. Swift needs some improvement in pass protection, but isn’t a liability.
Should the Titans not lock Henry up for the long haul, Swift could step in as a three-down back in 2021.
Round 2
Clyde Edwards-Helaire | LSU
There’s a lot to like about Edward-Helaire, who was an active pass-catcher during his college days at LSU. On top of that, he has the versatility to be lined up anywhere on the formation, which gives offensive coordinator Arthur Smith some flexibility in his offense.
Granted, his pass protection does need some work, but overall Edwards-Helaire has the vision, footwork and pass-catching ability to make him a solid three-down back in the NFL.
Round 3
Zack Moss | Utah
There’s no question Moss is a talented back, but health concerns might lead to him dropping in this year’s draft. If so, the Titans could find themselves with a potential steal late in the third round.
Moss is an underrated pass-catcher and has all the physical tools to be a three-down back. Just like Henry, he’s a bruising runner that will make defenders pay, but won’t blow you away with speed in the open field like Henry can.
He wasn’t very active in pass protection with the Utes, however he has the makeup to be effective in that area from the jump.
Round 5
Ke’Shawn Vaughn | Vanderbilt
Vaughn is a player the Titans have met with, so he’s certainly on their radar.
The Vanderbilt product shows good vision between the tackles and is more of a north/south runner than one who can break one to the outside. However, his style will still be plenty effective behind what is an elite run-blocking line in Nashville.
Vaughn was active as a receiver in his final college season, so he’d be able to make an impact right away in that regard. The only issue is his pass protection isn’t very polished, and may never be.
Round 7
J.J. Taylor | Arizona
The biggest issues with Taylor are his size and the fact that he offers nothing in pass protection. Particularly because of his size, he doesn’t project to be a three-down back, which isn’t a big deal considering the Titans already have Henry.
Aside from that, the Arizona product is a good pass-catcher out of the backfield and is elusive enough to create extra yardage on his own. As a runner, he shows decent vision and good footwork when running in traffic.
