Titans Trade Down in Round One in Locked On Titans Mock Draft

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have been in pre-draft rumors throughout the early offseason, but normally it is focused on the chance they trade up for a quarterback. However, some would argue the better move is for the Titans to trade down in the first round to collect more picks and in turn have more ammo to stock a barren roster. We see them do that and how it would play out with the draft class in the latest seven-round mock draft from the Locked On Titans podcast.

Oh wait, that is MY podcast. Surprise! I made this mock draft. Yes me, the same guy who argued the Titans should not trade down just a short time ago. Full transparency, I still don’t think the Titans should trade down. I think they should stick and pick at eleven and I explain why in this article, but we are not here for what I want. We are here to examine the possibilities and it is very possible the Titans trade down in the first.

Everyone loves a draft trade chart. There is the Jimmy Johnson chart and the Rich Hill chart and the Fitzgerald-Spielberger chart. I say blah, blah, blah. What I prefer to use for realistic trades is precedent. What happened in recent years in those areas and use real life trades to create potential ones.

A trade I kept coming back to was between the New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders from 2022. The Commanders sat at pick 11 in the first round and decided to move down to pick 16 with the New Orleans Saints. The Commanders got pick 16, pick 98 and pick 120. I tried to find a team with similar assets in a similar draft spot and low and behold it was the Washington Commanders that made the most sense.

THE TRADE DOWN

Washington Commanders receive: Pick 11

Tennessee Titans receive: Pick 16, Pick 97, Pick 118

Pick 16: Joey Porter Jr, Cornerback, Penn St.

To me, this pick is all about hitting on a premium position. I believe there are five. Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle, Pass Rusher and Corner. I considered options like Darnell Wright and Nolan Smith as well, but I ultimately felt Porter Jr. was the best of the three players. He is tall at 6’2” and has long arms. He excels as a physical, press-man corner with high intelligence.

The Titans play a ton of man coverage and Porter Jr. is smart enough to play the other schemes the Titans like to mix in like their quarters coverage. I already know the push back; the Titans have a ton of young corners. Well, we need to accept that there is a good chance that Caleb Farley will never be a quality player. Also, Kristian Fulton is going into the last year of his contract. Roger McCreary and Elijah Molden have their own limitations and could be slot-only options long term. Scheme fit, premium positions, first-round talent and getting ahead of a future need? Sounds like good reasons to me.

Pick 41: John Michael Schmitz, Center, Minnesota

John Michael Schmitz would be the Titans’ center for the next decade. He is a PERFECT replacement for Ben Jones. He was built in a zone-run lab. He is excellent at reaching front-side defensive tackles and was in charge of operations upfront in college. His mind and skillset as a player is a perfect match for the Titans.

I had other options here like Darnell Washington or Sam LaPorta at tight end and some other interior offensive linemen, but Schmitz is the guy I feel most confident in as a true day-one starter. Yes, the Titans need more of a guard right now when you look at the starting lineup, but you don’t draft to fill a lineup, you draft to help your franchise for years to come. Especially with where the Titans are at as a team, they need to focus on drafting players they think can help within the next four seasons, not just guys who help in 2022.

Pick 72: Johnathan Mingo, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss

My draft crush, Mingo fits the Titans’ offense like a glove. Mingo doesn’t quite have the twitch or the consistent separation you may want, but he makes up for it with physicality and body control. Mingo does a great job on in-breaking routes and boxing out his defender which makes you less concerned about the separation. His breaks are coordinated out of his routes and he has strong hands with tracking skills to win down the field. Mingo needs to develop his route tree, but what he can do right now fits within the Titans’ scheme. At 6’1” and 220 pounds, he has the size to be out there in the Titans’ base formations on offense as well.

Pick 97: Luke Schoonmaker, Tight End, Michigan

The additional pick received from the trade down. I have been saying all offseason the Titans need a traditional in-line tight end to pair with the move tight end that Chig Okonkwo is. The Titans need Geoff Swaim, but better. Schoonmaker can be that. He is big at 6’5”, has good speed and strength. He runs smart routes and is a competent blocker right away. He isn’t going to give you much after the catch or in traffic, but that is what Chig is for. Schoonmaker has had some injury concerns and lacks production, but at this spot, he makes a ton of sense.

Pick 118: Dorian Williams, Linebacker, Tulane

The Titans used their second additional pick from the trade on defense. The Titans are in the middle of a renovation at linebacker. They brought in Azeez Al-Shaair and Luke Gifford in free agency and have leftovers on the roster in Monty Rice, Chance Campbell and Jack Gibbens, but none of those names should be seen as long-term answers. Also, none of those players has proven to consistently be a threat in pass coverage. Gibbens had some nice moments, but he is no sure thing.

Williams is a coverage specialist with great speed and an incredible 6’8” wing span. He is not someone you want out there in run defense all the time, but that is what Al-Shaair and Rice are for. The Titans need a role-specific sub-package linebacker and Williams can fill that role. With some added strength and coaching, he has the potential to be a starting linebacker in a few years.

Pick 147: Nick Hampton, Edge Rusher, Appalachian State

Hampton would be a project rotational rusher that fits in the Titans’ defense. Hampton has great bend around the edge and has some Harold Landry to him in how he runs the “loop” to get to the quarterback. His burst off the line of scrimmage is excellent. He has good length and utilizes a long-arm move in the pass rush that wins. He combines it with speed and it gets you excited about what he can be off the bench.

Hampton is not ready to be a run defender and will need to add weight and mass to have a chance to improve, but the Titans could use a project edge rusher right now. Also, Hampton has shown he is comfortable dropping back into zone coverage which fits well with the simulated pressures the Titans run.

Pick 186: Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Wide Receiver, West Virginia

I will admit right now I do not see the Titans making this pick, but the heart wants what it wants. Ford-Wheaton has all the physical tools. He is 6’3” with incredible speed and leaping ability. He is a “Moss” specialist. The only issue is his confidence tends to wain after mistakes and can lead to a lack of focus in his routes and catches. Ford-Wheaton needs some tough coaching, but has superstar potential. I highly doubt the Titans would take a chance on him, but if they did they could unearth a gem.

Pick 228: Jake Moody, Kicker, Michigan

No explanation is needed and I will continue drafting Moody with the Titans’ last pick until they pull the keyboard from my cold, rigid fingers.

Titans Related Stories

DUPREE JOINS FALCONS: The Tennessee Titans released Bud Dupree earlier this offseason and now the ex-Titans’ edge rusher is joining the Atlanta Falcons at a much lower salary than what he was set to make with the Titans. CLICK HERE

WR HELP WANTED: The Tennessee Titans may attack wide receiver on the first day of the NFL draft, but if they wait until day two, there will be some fantastic options they should target at the position. CLICK HERE

FIRST ROUND PASS RUSH: The Tennessee Titans could be aiming to bolster their pass rush group with their first-round pick according to recent buzz from ESPN’s draft analyst Matt Miller. Something that would be quite the surprise. CLICK HERE

Add us as a preferred source on Google