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The NFL offseason has officially arrived following the conclusion of the NFL Scouting Combine, which saw draft hopefuls both help and hurt their stock.
Now it's time to start looking ahead toward free agency, which will have a significant impact on what the Tennessee Titans do in the draft. But before we get there, it’s time for the second Titans Wire mock draft.
We used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator for this exercise and left all settings on their default settings. We had no trades; we controlled only the Titans, and we projected a full seven rounds.
Here's how things played out:
Entering the draft, I had two players in mind, Bailey and Reuben Bain, for this pick, and I hoped that one would be there. I jumped at the chance to land Bailey after the Arizona Cardinals took Bain with a pick earlier. Even if the Titans add to their edge unit in free agency, a young and explosive edge to mix with Jeffery Simmons in Robert Saleh’s defense is a must.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Bailey is extremely hard for linemen to stay in front of. He moves like a slashing two guard, blending explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend, and flow around blocks from multiple angles. His leverage and lower-body flexion create game-over scenarios once he reaches pocket depth with even a minor lead. He can be stalled when a blocker latches his hands in deep, but Bailey’s elusiveness and suddenness make clean clamps a relative rarity. He’s instinctive with natural mid-rush counters, but he must continue developing hand usage and crafting rush plans for when protection shifts his way. Teams can run at Bailey due to his lack of anchor and take-on presence, but his work-around quickness will also lead to tackles for loss. His draft grade is slightly tempered by a lack of desired size/length, but the explosiveness and athletic talent is truly elite. His sack production should carry over to the NFL as an odd-front rush linebacker with Pro Bowl upside.
When the draft rolls around, I doubt Sadiq is still on the board, but if he is, general manager Mike Borgonzi should not hesitate to add this playmaker to the roster. With Chig Okonkwo an unrestricted free agent, grabbing a dynamic tight end to pair with Gunnar Helm is the right move.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
A versatile tight end with a shredded physique and alluring potential as a volume target, Sadiq’s route tree will be full of branches. His athleticism and break quickness should allow him to uncover against man coverage on all three levels. He’s talented after the catch, with the ability to make things easier for play-callers and quarterbacks looking to move the sticks. He has the body control and hand strength to win contested catches, but will occasionally allow balls to hit the ground on lower-difficulty plays. He’s adequate as a blocker, giving good effort in-line and locating and landing on linebackers as a move blocker. Teams looking to diversify their passing game options with a talented pass-catching tight end could make Sadiq a priority.
After grabbing a weapon for the offense with Sadiq, it was time to address the cornerback room with one underrated prospect, who has the skill set to fit what Robert Saleh looks for at the position. Johnson may not be the biggest name, but he should come in and make an impact.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined. He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route. He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness, and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team inside the 20.
I was a bit stuck here in the draft, and would have likely entertained a trade if I were using them in this exercise, but with no solid cornerbacks or running backs falling into this zone, I turned to linebacker. Louis may not be the prototypical linebacker, but his versatility should be something that Robert Saleh can work with.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Undersized linebacker/box safety who had more production and made fewer mental mistakes in 2024. Louis has the speed, athleticism, and recognition to quickly find the football. Whether in lurker mode from zone or clinging to the route in man, he’s very decisive in coverage and has the ball skills to flip the field. He struggles to take on blocks and leverage his gap in the run game. He often catches contact and becomes a drag-down tackler near the line and in space. Teams need to have a plan for how to use him, but versatile sub-package defenders with speed and cover talent are valuable in the league.
The Titans may look to add some competition to their backfield, and Allen could be a solid addition. While he may lack explosion, he has the skill set to be productive and add a dimension that the Titans have lacked.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Allen is productive with good size and vision, but below-average explosiveness. He’s a fluid runner with ideal patience and a natural feel for when to cut off his blocks. He runs low to the ground with the strength to run through arm tackles and fall forward after contact. A feel for lane development allows him to fit any run scheme, but his lack of burst is likely to constrict the field and limit his ability to find explosive runs. Allen appears to lack third-down and special-teams value, but he could earn a spot as a solid backup.
The Titans continue to add some cornerback depth and turn to Neal. While he may not be the most athletic cornerback in the class, his ability to stand up against the run and be physical on the outside could develop in the right season.
NFL Draft Buzz scouting report:
Looking at the draft landscape, Neal profiles as a late third or early fourth round selection who carves out a niche role immediately before potentially developing into a serviceable starter down the road. His combine performance will be fascinating to watch - if he somehow tests better athletically than his tape suggests, he could hear his name called earlier on day three. But the smart money says he's a developmental corner who finds his home as a core special teamer and situational defender for his first few seasons. Teams drafting him are banking on his character, toughness, and technical refinement compensating for athletic limitations. In a passing league that increasingly demands corners who can run, Neal will need to be strategic about his role and continue honing his craft to stick beyond his rookie contract.
Montgomery is a small-school prospect who proved to be one of the best wide receivers at the Senior Bowl. A former basketball player, Montgomery is in the early stages of his career as a receiver and has some upside, but his raw tools are too good to pass up at this stage of the draft.
NFL Draft Buzz scouting report:
The ideal landing spot is a spread-heavy offense that can ease him in with a defined role rather than asking him to be a complete receiver from Day 1. Think of a system that features a lot of isolations, fades, and manufactured touches where his catch radius and ball skills can shine while the rest of his game catches up. There is legitimate upside here because of the physical traits and competitive fire, but this is a developmental bet, not a finished product. Montgomery is best suited as a late-round selection who earns his way onto the field through special teams and flash plays, with the ceiling of growing into a productive complementary piece if the coaching and patience align.
The Titans fall back on the athleticism, size, and speed mantra that general manager Mike Borgonzi has discussed on multiple occasions during the NFL Scouting Combine. Styles may not be as accomplished as his brother, but his elite speed, coupled with his lack of experience at safety, makes him an intriguing developmental prospect.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Styles has made improvements during his transition from receiver to defensive back over the last three seasons. However, tight hips and a lack of route recognition are a double whammy that slows his departure and limits ball production in man. He appears alert and responsive in the short zone and plays with good leverage, which could be something to build on. Styles needs to become a bigger factor in run support, though. His cover talent on special teams could buy him some time, but making a practice squad might be the most reasonable goal at this juncture.
With a bias toward their own internal rankings, an incomplete "team needs" list, and an emphasis on positional needs matching pick value, Pro Football Focus gave Titans Wire’s first mock an outstanding grade to kick things off.
We know what PFF thinks, but what about you, Titans fans? Would you be happy with this draft, or would you go a different direction?
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans Wire 7-round mock draft: Tennessee add playmakers to roster
Continue reading...
Now it's time to start looking ahead toward free agency, which will have a significant impact on what the Tennessee Titans do in the draft. But before we get there, it’s time for the second Titans Wire mock draft.
We used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator for this exercise and left all settings on their default settings. We had no trades; we controlled only the Titans, and we projected a full seven rounds.
Here's how things played out:
Round 1, Pick 4: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Entering the draft, I had two players in mind, Bailey and Reuben Bain, for this pick, and I hoped that one would be there. I jumped at the chance to land Bailey after the Arizona Cardinals took Bain with a pick earlier. Even if the Titans add to their edge unit in free agency, a young and explosive edge to mix with Jeffery Simmons in Robert Saleh’s defense is a must.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Bailey is extremely hard for linemen to stay in front of. He moves like a slashing two guard, blending explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend, and flow around blocks from multiple angles. His leverage and lower-body flexion create game-over scenarios once he reaches pocket depth with even a minor lead. He can be stalled when a blocker latches his hands in deep, but Bailey’s elusiveness and suddenness make clean clamps a relative rarity. He’s instinctive with natural mid-rush counters, but he must continue developing hand usage and crafting rush plans for when protection shifts his way. Teams can run at Bailey due to his lack of anchor and take-on presence, but his work-around quickness will also lead to tackles for loss. His draft grade is slightly tempered by a lack of desired size/length, but the explosiveness and athletic talent is truly elite. His sack production should carry over to the NFL as an odd-front rush linebacker with Pro Bowl upside.
Round 2, Pick 35: Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon
When the draft rolls around, I doubt Sadiq is still on the board, but if he is, general manager Mike Borgonzi should not hesitate to add this playmaker to the roster. With Chig Okonkwo an unrestricted free agent, grabbing a dynamic tight end to pair with Gunnar Helm is the right move.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
A versatile tight end with a shredded physique and alluring potential as a volume target, Sadiq’s route tree will be full of branches. His athleticism and break quickness should allow him to uncover against man coverage on all three levels. He’s talented after the catch, with the ability to make things easier for play-callers and quarterbacks looking to move the sticks. He has the body control and hand strength to win contested catches, but will occasionally allow balls to hit the ground on lower-difficulty plays. He’s adequate as a blocker, giving good effort in-line and locating and landing on linebackers as a move blocker. Teams looking to diversify their passing game options with a talented pass-catching tight end could make Sadiq a priority.
Round 3, Pick 66: Chris Johnson, cornerback, San Diego State
After grabbing a weapon for the offense with Sadiq, it was time to address the cornerback room with one underrated prospect, who has the skill set to fit what Robert Saleh looks for at the position. Johnson may not be the biggest name, but he should come in and make an impact.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined. He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route. He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness, and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team inside the 20.
Round 4, Pick 101: Kyle Louis, linebacker, Pittsburgh
I was a bit stuck here in the draft, and would have likely entertained a trade if I were using them in this exercise, but with no solid cornerbacks or running backs falling into this zone, I turned to linebacker. Louis may not be the prototypical linebacker, but his versatility should be something that Robert Saleh can work with.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Undersized linebacker/box safety who had more production and made fewer mental mistakes in 2024. Louis has the speed, athleticism, and recognition to quickly find the football. Whether in lurker mode from zone or clinging to the route in man, he’s very decisive in coverage and has the ball skills to flip the field. He struggles to take on blocks and leverage his gap in the run game. He often catches contact and becomes a drag-down tackler near the line and in space. Teams need to have a plan for how to use him, but versatile sub-package defenders with speed and cover talent are valuable in the league.
Round 5, Pick 140: Kaytron Allen, running back, Penn State
The Titans may look to add some competition to their backfield, and Allen could be a solid addition. While he may lack explosion, he has the skill set to be productive and add a dimension that the Titans have lacked.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Allen is productive with good size and vision, but below-average explosiveness. He’s a fluid runner with ideal patience and a natural feel for when to cut off his blocks. He runs low to the ground with the strength to run through arm tackles and fall forward after contact. A feel for lane development allows him to fit any run scheme, but his lack of burst is likely to constrict the field and limit his ability to find explosive runs. Allen appears to lack third-down and special-teams value, but he could earn a spot as a solid backup.
Round 5, Pick 142: Julian Neal, cornerback, Arkansas
The Titans continue to add some cornerback depth and turn to Neal. While he may not be the most athletic cornerback in the class, his ability to stand up against the run and be physical on the outside could develop in the right season.
NFL Draft Buzz scouting report:
Looking at the draft landscape, Neal profiles as a late third or early fourth round selection who carves out a niche role immediately before potentially developing into a serviceable starter down the road. His combine performance will be fascinating to watch - if he somehow tests better athletically than his tape suggests, he could hear his name called earlier on day three. But the smart money says he's a developmental corner who finds his home as a core special teamer and situational defender for his first few seasons. Teams drafting him are banking on his character, toughness, and technical refinement compensating for athletic limitations. In a passing league that increasingly demands corners who can run, Neal will need to be strategic about his role and continue honing his craft to stick beyond his rookie contract.
Round 6, Pick 183: Tyren Montgomery, wide receiver, John Carroll
Montgomery is a small-school prospect who proved to be one of the best wide receivers at the Senior Bowl. A former basketball player, Montgomery is in the early stages of his career as a receiver and has some upside, but his raw tools are too good to pass up at this stage of the draft.
NFL Draft Buzz scouting report:
The ideal landing spot is a spread-heavy offense that can ease him in with a defined role rather than asking him to be a complete receiver from Day 1. Think of a system that features a lot of isolations, fades, and manufactured touches where his catch radius and ball skills can shine while the rest of his game catches up. There is legitimate upside here because of the physical traits and competitive fire, but this is a developmental bet, not a finished product. Montgomery is best suited as a late-round selection who earns his way onto the field through special teams and flash plays, with the ceiling of growing into a productive complementary piece if the coaching and patience align.
Round 7, Pick 238: Lorenzo Styles Jr., safety, Ohio State
The Titans fall back on the athleticism, size, and speed mantra that general manager Mike Borgonzi has discussed on multiple occasions during the NFL Scouting Combine. Styles may not be as accomplished as his brother, but his elite speed, coupled with his lack of experience at safety, makes him an intriguing developmental prospect.
Lance Zierlein scouting report:
Styles has made improvements during his transition from receiver to defensive back over the last three seasons. However, tight hips and a lack of route recognition are a double whammy that slows his departure and limits ball production in man. He appears alert and responsive in the short zone and plays with good leverage, which could be something to build on. Styles needs to become a bigger factor in run support, though. His cover talent on special teams could buy him some time, but making a practice squad might be the most reasonable goal at this juncture.
Pro Football Focus grade: A-
With a bias toward their own internal rankings, an incomplete "team needs" list, and an emphasis on positional needs matching pick value, Pro Football Focus gave Titans Wire’s first mock an outstanding grade to kick things off.
We know what PFF thinks, but what about you, Titans fans? Would you be happy with this draft, or would you go a different direction?
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans Wire 7-round mock draft: Tennessee add playmakers to roster
Continue reading...
