If there’s one position the Tennessee Titans don’t need to heavily prioritize filling this offseason, it’s defensive tackle — or really any position along the defensive line.
Tennessee stands to go into 2020 with a starting group upfront of Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones and Jeffery Simmons, all of whom played well last season.
There has even been a rumor that the Titans have a potential interest in defensive lineman D.J. Reader, who is unlikely to return to the Houston Texans and would be a huge splash of an addition in Nashville.
Despite all this, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson has the Titans taking a defensive tackle in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here’s what his picks look like, along with the write-up for his choice for the Titans’ first-round selection.
Round 1, pick No. 29: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Logan Ryan and Tramaine Brock are two of the Titans’ top three cornerbacks and both will be out of a contract in March. But even if Tennessee brings back one (or both), you can never have enough defensive backs on the roster. Terrell quietly had a strong season for the Tigers and he followed that up with a stellar combine. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into Round 1.
Round 2, pick No. 61: Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
Round 3, pick No. 93: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s
While I don’t agree with the pick in the second round (nothing against Madubuike, the Titans just don’t need to take a defensive lineman that early, if at all), the selections for round one and three are spot on.
Tennessee might be in the process of rebuilding its secondary this season with the potential departure of Logan Ryan, and there’s a chance the team moves on from Malcolm Butler, either this year or next.
And, with Jack Conklin set to hit the open market and primed to command a huge payday that the Titans might not be willing to match, adding a tackle for depth behind the eventual 2020 starter (likely to be Dennis Kelly) with an eye on the future would be a great idea.
If the Titans bring Reader in, one of the three aforementioned projected 2020 starters on the defensive line will likely be let go in some way, shape or form. It certainly wouldn’t be Simmons, who the Titans drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, so that leaves Casey or Jones.
From there, the Titans will have to figure out depth behind their starters, as Austin Johnson, who played a key rotational role in 2019, is a free agent and isn’t a lock to return.
Even in that situation, Tennessee has Isaiah Mack, the undrafted free agent who impressed at times last season and could certainly fill the backup role.
When Day 2 of the NFL Draft comes this year, Tennessee would be better served targeting another position in the second round that they are weaker at and don’t have so much invested in already.
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