Titans NFL Draft Daily (Feb. 1): Keep an Eye on Florida Wide Receiver Ricky Pearsall
It's no secret that the Tennessee Titans need to target a wide receiver (no pun intended) in the 2024 NFL Draft. There are plenty of quality candidates who could make an immediate impact upon arrival in Nashville. One name on the rise at the Senior Bowl is Florida's Ricky Pearsall.
Before this week, Pearsall was considered a Day 3 prospect — someone likely to be selected in rounds 4-7 of the NFL Draft.
But after a few practices at the Senior Bowl, it sounds like the former Gator is already on the rise. He might be a player for Titans general manager Ran Carthon and coach Brian Callahan to keep an eye on when the draft rolls around in late April.
Pre-Senior Bowl evaluation
Pearsall, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, was regarded as a player many thought could seriously improve his draft stock with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. He was coming off a solid season at Florida, catching 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns.
Pearsall felt like a low-risk, high-reward selection in the late rounds of the draft. But ESPN's Jordan Reid thought the Florida product had a chance to excel this week in Mobile, Ala.
"There isn't a route that Pearsall can't run, and he has the versatility to play from the outside or in the slot," Reid wrote. "He posted 965 receiving yards in 2023, and if he shows off that route-running ability this week, he's a candidate to jump from Rounds 4-5 into the latter parts of Day 2."
It took Pearsall only two days to turn heads.
Pearsall a Day 2 star at Senior Bowl
After the second day of Senior Bowl practice, NFL.com's Eric Edholm and Lance Zierlein labeled Pearsall a Day 2 star.
"When it comes to my tape study of this year's draft class, it's hard to find a wide receiver who is more consistent than Pearsall. He is performing at that same level this week, no matter who is guarding him. He's shown off his route-running ability and consistent hands during one-on-one drills," Edholm and Zierlein wrote.
Pearsall is being labeled as a "Day 3 steal" in the 2024 NFL Draft. And, if he continues to impress, he could even sneak into the second day.
If he's available, is he a legitimate option for the Titans?
How Pearsall fits Titans
DeAndre Hopkins needs a running mate, someone who can be productive and take the pressure off — at least in some capacity. Can a slot receiver really be that type of threat?
While there are no guarantees in the NFL, the reality is that the Titans need a receiver with more potential to make an immediate impact. That's why names like Devontez Walker (North Carolina) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina) have been mentioned as second-round selections for Tennessee.
Should Executive Vice President/General Manager Ran Carthon and coach Brian Callahan value a receiver over offensive tackle with the No. 7 pick, players like Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) have been mentioned.
It's unlikely the Titans would take a leap of faith on Pearsall in the second round. And since the Titans don't have a third-round pick, there's a chance the former Florida star is selected by another team before Tennessee gets another crack at him.
But if Pearsall is still there in the fourth round or later, he might be worth a shot. The Titans need to beef up the receiver room, and you can never have too many playmakers on the roster.
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