The Tennessee Titans made their second trade of the 2021 NFL draft in order to move up and take Louisville wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick in the fourth round and at No. 109 overall.
In exchange for moving up, the Titans sent the Carolina Panthers one of their fourth-round picks (No. 126), and a selection in the fifth (No. 166) and seventh (No. 232) rounds.
The first trade the Titans made came on Day 2, although it was a deal to move back from No. 85 overall in the third round. The Titans acquired selection Nos. 92 (third round) and 135 (fourth round) in the deal with the Green Bay Packers.
The pick of Fitzgerald was quite a surprise.
He wasn’t someone on most people’s radars, and more popular receivers, like USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown and Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace, were still on the board. However, clearly the Titans think very highly of the 6-foot-2, 202-pound receiver if they moved up to grab him.
Here’s a look at what Twitter had to say about the Titans’ fifth selection in this year’s draft.
I'm not going to knock the #Titans for moving up to get a receiver. Clear need, unaddressed in the first three rounds. If this is a guy they love who they think can produce and produce early, quality over quantity.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 1, 2021
Dez Fitzpatrick is a @gregcosell favorite — has mentioned that Fitzpatrick has a skill-set that reminded him some of Devante Adams when Adams was coming out of college (obv Cosell wasn't making that direct comp). Definitely an intriguing pick
— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) May 1, 2021
Des Fitzpatrick isn’t the WR I would have taken, but the #Titans obviously like him a lot to trade up and get him. Physical skill set is NFL quality for sure. Made some big plays at UL, but I just didn’t think he was better than some of the other guys on the board. We’ll see.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeMiracles) May 1, 2021
GREAT PICK!!!!!!! Dez Fitzpatrick is a baller.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) May 1, 2021
I've honestly wondered why Dez Fitzpatrick wasn't rated higher in this draft. Thought he was a good WR at Louisville. That's a nice addition. #Titans
— Gentry Estes (@Gentry_Estes) May 1, 2021
At the end of the day, we’ll find out how good Dez Fitzpatrick really is, but the #Titans must REALLY like him a lot more than guys like Wallace, St. Brown, etc. to trade half their remaining picks for him. Also, must have felt strongly that someone else was about to pick him.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeMiracles) May 1, 2021
Liked Dez Fitzpatrick as a late sleeper. Surprised the #Titans felt like they needed to trade up for him.
— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) May 1, 2021
Trading that much for Dez Fitzpatrick is……something
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) May 1, 2021
Dez Fitzpatrick over Amon-Ra St. Brown (or even Tylan Wallace) is surprising to me. Older prospect, pretty average production, but produced early. Pretty mediocre in my model, but good opportunity in Tennessee.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) May 1, 2021
