Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Round 1, Pick 26: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Round 3, Pick 90: OG Cole Strange, U-T Chattanooga
Round 4, Pick 131: TE Cade Otton, Washington
Round 4, Pick 143: CB Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
Round 5, Pick 169: OT Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
Round 6, Pick 204: WR Jalen Nailor, Michigan State
Round 6, Pick 219: S Smoke Monday, Auburn
The first pick was a no-brainer for me. With one of the top wide receivers still on the board, combined with the fact that none of the top offensive tackles were available, I went ahead and happily selected Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.
Along with A.J. Brown and Robert woods, Burks would immediately help to form one of the most physically imposing and promising wide receiver trios in the league upon his arrival.
Also, another thing to consider is the inevitable run on wide receivers before the Titans’ next pick. By the time Tennessee is back on the board at No. 90 overall, they could be selecting between wide receivers who are closer to the 20s on their positional rankings than they are to 10.
Meanwhile, a non-premium position of need like offensive guard will likely still have some of the top interior linemen options available.
That is why, with my next selection, I went ahead and picked one of the more athletically fluid guards in this draft, Chattanooga’s Cole Strange.
Strange is an extremely versatile lineman who offers center/guard flexibility. He is the type of player that fits in perfectly with the tough-nosed culture that Mike Vrabel has created. Strange’s athleticism would also allow him to thrive in a zone-blocking scheme like Tennessee’s.
The Chattanooga product would instantly join the starting competition at left guard with Jamarco Jones and Aaron Brewer, which ideally would also allow 2021 second-round pick, Dillon Radunz, to solely focus on right tackle.
I then began Day 3 by giving the Titans a versatile tight end who can do a little bit of everything.
Cade Otton is an instinctive route-runner who possesses reliable hands as a pass-catcher, while also being a fundamentally sound and aggressive blocker in the run game.
The Washington product would drastically help to improve the Titans’ frequently used 12-personnel package (two tight ends), along with newly acquired Austin Hooper.
With the second of my fourth-round picks, I decided to take someone whose long-term value was too good to pass up on at this point.
Tennessee’s Alontae Taylor is an experienced and ascending cornerback who possesses ideal size and speed at the position. Taylor is also very cerebral, possessing a genuine understanding of route concepts and how to anticipate them.
The Tennessee product also adds some versatility to the special teams units, as he developed into a talented gunner throughout his time in Knoxville. That specific skillset will allow him to contribute to the team immediately upon his arrival, while his upside at cornerback gives him legitimate starter potential with proper patience and grooming.
I then went ahead and drafted an athletic offensive linemen with a massive 7-foot-1 wingspan who dominated his level of competition. Matt Waletzko possesses all the traits that you look for in a project tackle. His physical and mental upside is worth the shot here in Round 5.
I concluded my draft by adding two players in Round 6 who can produce in a variety of ways.
Michigan State’s Jalen Nailor was often the team’s big play extraordinaire, averaging over 17 yards per catch, while also producing in a plethora of other ways such as kick returns, end-arounds, handoffs, screens, etc. That type of versatility will give Nailor a legitimate chance to find a way to contribute to the football team.
Lastly, I give the Titans a physical presence at the safety position that they can develop. Smoke Monday is a passionate tone-setter in the run game, and with the Titans being in the same division as Jonathan Taylor, it’s smart to have someone like Monday who can physically enforce things in the box to make runners think twice before crossing his path again.
