All of the speculation and mock drafts will finally come to an end next week, as the 2022 NFL draft is set to begin on April 28, and will run through April 30.
The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 26 overall pick, one of their seven selections over the course of the three-day event.
Tennessee also has one pick in the third and fifth rounds, and two apiece in the fourth and sixth rounds. Ideally, the Titans will swing a trade to get a second-round pick, which they don’t have thanks to the Julio Jones trade.
In our most recent mock draft, we had the Titans trading out of the first round entirely, which netted them an extra top-100 pick.
For the final time, we’re doing a mock draft round-up just to see who experts are picking for the Titans. Some of the mocks we cover are multiple rounds, but in every one we provide a grade for the picks made.
The Titans’ biggest needs are at wide receiver, guard, and tackle, and to a lesser extent tight end and quarterback, so any picks that don’t address one of those five needs will be graded harshly.
Now, the mocks.
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The picks: WR Jahan Dotson,
Easterling on Dotson: “Robert Woods was an underrated signing, but he’s coming off a torn ACL, so the Titans should still target a big-play receiver to help keep attention away from A.J. Brown. Whatever Dotson lacks in size, he makes up for in every other area of his game as one of this year’s most complete pass-catchers.”
Grade for Dotson pick: B+
Grade for West pick: B
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The picks: OL Kenyon Green, WR Alec Pierce
Edwards on Green: “Green is a lineman with the versatility to play multiple positions in a pinch. He has excelled when allowed to stay home at guard. Tennessee needs to start adding some younger pieces to that front and the Texas A&M product is a good start.”
Grade for Green pick: A+
Grade for Pierce pick: D
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The picks: OL Zion Johnson, WR Velus Jones Jr.
Kiper on Johnson: “This is a pick for a clear need position. Johnson dominated at left guard for Boston College last season, but he could move to center if needed. The Titans have to get road graders to pave the way for Derrick Henry.”
Kiper on Jones Jr.: “Tennessee doesn’t have its second-round pick because of last year’s Julio Jones trade, so it could use this pick to add a playmaker for Ryan Tannehill. Jones, who will be 25 years old when the 2022 season begins, is lightning quick (4.31 40 at the combine) and will help in the return game.”
Grade for Johnson pick: A+
Grade for Jones Jr. pick: C
Syndication: HawkCentral
The pick: OL Tyler Linderbaum
Fornelli on Linderbaum: “Honestly, if you were to design a center in a lab, they would come out looking very similar to Linderbaum. He’ll be a perennial All-Pro barring injury and is an excellent fit for a smashmouth offense like the Titans.”
Grade for Linderbaum pick: B-
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The pick: EDGE Jermaine Johnson
PFF’s Tej Seth on Johnson: “The Titans need an edge rusher to complement Jeffrey Simmons on the defensive line. Johnson is a true three-down lineman who played 61 snaps a game last season. He can shore up the run game on the edge after posting 22 run stops in 2021 and can also get home to the quarterback, having racked up 14 sacks last season. The Titans could really use him to get after the gauntlet of AFC quarterbacks they have to face this year to get back to the No. 1 overall seed in the conference.”
Grade for Johnson pick: D
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The pick: CB Andrew Booth Jr.
MJD on Booth: “The Titans bring in a solid all-around cornerback who’s not afraid to tackle — the kind of player Mike Vrabel loves.”
Grade for Booth pick: D
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The pick: OL Kenyon Green
Schrager on Green: “Green has interviewed well with teams the past few weeks and has an edge to him that will jell with that Titans offensive line.”
Grade for pick: A+
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The pick: EDGE George Karlaftis
Davis on Karlaftis: “The Titans really rebounded on defense in 2021 by getting their pass rush, led by Harold Landry, pumped up. They keep it going with Karlaftis, whose edge-pressure numbers in college were tremendous. I project him to improve his sack numbers along the way, similar to the way Landry has progressed.”
Grade for pick: D
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The pick: LB Devin Lloyd
Zierlein on Lloyd: “Lloyd could be targeted well before this, but if he’s still on the board, he’s a better option than what the Titans have currently. He’s a Mike Vrabel-level tough guy.
Grade for pick: F
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The pick: QB Desmond Ridder
Orr on Ridder: “Mike Vrabel is going to have the kind of insight into the Bearcats’ program that Belichick does into Alabama. And while Cincinnati may not yield the same kind of talent font, Ridder is an incredibly talented passer who gives the Titans a hand-the-baton option should Ryan Tannehill falter. Watching Ridder highlights is a blast because he is so smooth. Count the designed number of drop steps and, just as his foot hits the ground, a swooping throw with solid velocity leaves his arm. It’s going to be difficult to disrupt him given how fluid a player he is. Tennessee might want to wait, but it is low on draft capital and will want the rights to Ridder’s fifth-year option. Our resident Ohio State and Ohio State–program-adjacent expert Albert Breer seems to concur.”
Grade for pick: B-
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The pick: LB Devin Lloyd
Tice on Lloyd: “Offensive line wouldn’t be surprising here, but the Titans instead add Lloyd to their front seven. Lloyd still has to learn how to take on blocks, but he brings legit range to make the tackle and play in coverage. He would pair well with Zach Cunningham’s run-first skill set.”
Grade for pick: F