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2018 NFL mock draft: Saquon Barkley heads to Giants

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 23: Arden Key #49 of the LSU Tigers rushes during a game against the Syracuse Orange at Tiger Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 23: Arden Key #49 of the LSU Tigers rushes during a game against the Syracuse Orange at Tiger Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

35. . Edge. LSU. Arden Key. 25. player

In one of the bigger surprises of the AFC Playoffs, the Tennessee Titans went into Kansas City and knocked off the Chiefs in Wild Card Round action. Last season, quarterback Marcus Mariota started making his ascent up the ranks of quarterbacks in the league, and while he was sporadic in 2017, he continues to get better. The Titans are going to be fine as long as he is under center, but this defense needs to get better.

Heading into the Divisional Round matchup against the New England Patriots, nobody gave the Titans much of a chance. After getting out to a 7-0 lead, the Titans folded under the constant pressure of the Patriots offense. If they want to get to the top of the mountain in the AFC, they have to get better on defense, and using their first round pick in April to bolster the pass rush could be the way they go.

When it comes to the 2018 NFL Draft, there are few better pass rushers than Arden Key from LSU. Key has long been one of the top edge rushers in college football, and many believe he could actually be one of the top two off the board in 2018. While he is a solid player, he is likely to find himself in the bottom of round one, where the Titans can find an absolute steal at No. 25 overall. If the Titans want to be a contender in a tough AFC South next year, they have to be better at getting after the quarterback.

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