NFL Draft 2017: Tennessee Titans first-round grade
With the fifth overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans take Corey Davis. How does this pick grade out?
Thanks to last year’s epic deal with the Los Angeles Rams, the Tennessee Titans not only come off an impressive 9-7 season but they had the fifth overall pick in this draft. They also have No. 18 as well, their own selection.
On Thursday night in Philadelphia, general manager Jon Robinson surprised a lot of people by passing on defense and selection wide receiver Corey Davis. The Western Michigan product does fill a need for the club and gives two-year quarterback Marcus Mariota another talented target.
Still, with players like safety Jamal Adams and cornerback Marshon Lattimore still on the board, the pick of Davis was a surprise. Led by legendary coordinator and Hall of Fame defensive back Dick LeBeau, the Tennessee defense had its ups and downs this past season. But they also flashed signs of potential. This unit ranked 20th overall in terms of fewest yards per game allowed.
Still, only the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers allowed more yards per game through the air in 2016. The Titans allowed only 35 offensive touchdowns but 25 came through the air. Add in the fact that they picked off only 12 passes and came away with only 18 takeaways and the club was in big-time need of some playmakers on this unit.
However, Davis is the pick. And it’s hard to argue with his four-year college resume. The talented wideout totaled 331 catches for 5,278 yards and 52 scores. His production went up every year, totaling 67, 78, 89 and 97 catches, respectively. This past season, the 6’3”, 213-pound prospect’s reception total added up to exactly 1,500 yards and 19 scores.
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The Titans had bigger needs than a wide receiver. But they were looking for more help in this department and got it in Corey Davis. Perhaps the secondary will be addressed a little later in the first round.
Second pick…
Later in the evening, the Titans used their original first-round selection to address the secondary. They opted for USC cornerback Adoree Jackson, who played three seasons with the Trojans and comes off his most productive campaign. After picking off only one pass in his first two years with the squad, the 5-foot-11 defender racked up 55 tackles, five interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
He’s an all-purpose performer who returned a total of eight kicks for scores (four punts and four kickoffs) in three seasons with Southern Cal. And for good measure, he also totaled 39 receptions in his brief college career.
GRADE: A-