2018 NFL Draft: Tennessee Titans 7-round mock draft
By Joe Romano
Round 3 – Pick 89
Duke Dawson, CB, Florida
Last year the Tennessee Titans spent significant resources to upgrade their secondary. They signed Logan Ryan in free agency. In the draft they spent a first round pick on Adoree Jackson at corner out of USC. The two had some growing pains but showed strides as the season went on. With Kevin Byard’s emergence as an elite safety, the biggest hole is a third corner to pair with last year’s acquisitions.
Duke Dawson of Florida would be the perfect compliment. The experienced corner is probably best served in the slot at the next level. With Jackson and Ryan outside that is exactly where he will play.
Dawson played in Gainesville as soon as he got on campus. In this draft class, which is deep on corners, he could get pushed down boards because of a lack of size and elite athleticism. At 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, he is a physical corner with great mirroring skills. He would struggle if asked to play on the outside because of his frame and short arms. Inside he will be able to do what he does best, press players and mirror stuff over the middle.
The Titans would get one of the more pro-ready corners in the class after drafting Jackson who many considered more of a project player. This is a secondary that struggled most of the year, another year for Jackson and an addition like Dawson would make that unit into a strength for a defensive coach in Vrabel.