With the offseason in full swing, the Tennessee Titans are preparing for the NFL combine that starts in less than two weeks. The combine will be the first time that the Titans will have a chance to meet with some top prospects, including quarterback Cam Ward, who has become a fan favorite.
This is also a great time for analysts to release their pre-combine mock drafts and make their best guesses on how the NFL draft in April will play out. Some experts even try to incorporate trades into the mix.
Joe Klatt of FOX Sports did just that in his latest mock, with the Titans trading out of the top spot in a deal with the New York Giants.
Unfortunately, Klatt did not provide specifics on his hypothetical trade, so there is no way to add the compensation to the evaluation of the trade. Usually, this would be a deal breaker for fans who love that type of thing, but in this case, fans would be happy.
3. Tennessee Titans (via Giants): Miami (Fla.) QB Cam Ward
After the Titans flip picks with the Giants, they still wind up with a quarterback.
To me, this is a no-brainer for the Titans. I really like Ward. He’s a talented player and elevated Miami this past season. If Carter was still on the board, I could see Tennessee thinking a bit longer about this selection as they were bottom-five in sacks last season. But the Titans really need to get their quarterback situation right.
Additionally, I think there’s quite a drop-off after Sanders and Ward in terms of quarterback prospects. So waiting until later to pick one is risky.
Ward is a commonly mocked prospect and the quarterback that many in the fan base prefer. Trading out of the top spot and still grabbing Ward could be a home run for the front office if he can develop into a franchise quarterback. Ward has the high ceiling and the ability to make that jump; the biggest question really sits with his overall fit in head coach Brian Callahan’s system.
Ward could be a great pick, but everyone will have to wait until April to see if the Titans make him their selection.