Prospect Pick’em: Offensive Tackle

Now that the first wave of free agency has come and gone, it’s time to start shifting focus towards draft weekend.

The NFL Draft is arguably the most important and most anticipated period of the offseason. The Titans are in dire need of once again nailing a draft class that provides instant impact rookies.

Over the last two years, Tennessee has failed to get significant contributions from the majority of its last two draft classes.

The importance is now amplified for this team to add impact rookies in this draft class if they’re finally going to take that next step this fanbase is yearning for.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be giving you all a chance to vote on which prospects you would choose if the choice was yours. Each week we will provide a little background information on four different prospects from the same position group and then a poll will be posted so you all can vote on which prospect you’re leaning towards (write in’s also welcome).

This week, we’ll continue with possibly one of the biggest needs left, offensive tackle.

If the Titans feel that last years second round pick Dillon Radunz is better suited at guard, then that only increases the possibility that the right tackle spot becomes filled through the first two days of the draft (third times the charm, right?).

With all that said, let’s take a quick look at four possible options when Tennessee is on the clock.

OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

College Stats and Accomplishments

  • Height: 6’7”
  • 325 pounds 
  • 4.89 40-yard dash
  • First-Team All-MVFC 
  • Only offensive lineman nominated for Walter Payton Award (offensive player of the year)
  • Started every game the last two seasons
  • PFF grade of 97.3 (2021)
  • Only two sacks allowed the last two seasons
  • Only allowed four QB hits from 2020-2021
  • 15 pressures total in that time span

OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan

College Stats and Accomplishments

  • Height: 6’6”
  • 303 pounds
  • 30 bench press reps at 225 pounds
  • Made the transition from tight end to offensive tackle in 2020
  • First-Team ALL-MAC in 2021
  • PFF Grade of 94.6 last season
  • One sack allowed since making the transition from tight end
  • Only allowed three hits and six hurries last year

OT Tyler Smith, Tulsa

College Stats and Accomplishments

  • Height: 6’5”
  • 324 pounds
  • 4.65 20-yard shuttle
  • Redshirted the 2019 season but played in the final four games, starting the final two.
  • Played and started at left tackle in all nine games of 2020
  • Played and started all 13 games at LT in 2021
  • PFF Grade of 92.1 last season
  • Two sacks allowed over his Tulsa tenure
  • Only allowed two QB hits and five hurries in his final season

OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota

Collegiate Stats and Accolades

  • Height: 6’8”
  • 384 pounds
  • 24 bench press reps at 225 pounds 
  • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2019, 2018)
  • Outstanding Offensive Freshman (2018)
  • AP All-Big Ten Second Team (2021)
  • All-Big Ten First Team (2021, coaches)
  • All-Big Ten Third Team (2021, media)  
  • Started 31 of the 34 career games at right tackle
  • PFF grade of 82.3 last season
  • Only allowed one sack, two QB hits, and five hurries in 2021
Author: Shaun CalderonShaun Calderon resides in El Paso, TX after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso in December 2019 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology and a minor in education. Shaun is currently a full-time teacher and is also pursuing a career in the sports journalism world. He has been writing since August of 2019, where he started with the Fansided network and contributed there for one year. In August of 2020, Shaun was offered the chance to move over to USA Today Sports’ NFL Wire network to contribute for ‘Titans Wire’ where he was consistently featured on national platforms such as Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, MSN, USA Today, and more. On top of teaching and writing, Shaun does live radio reporting for local high school sports through the ESPN-El Paso network. He hopes you all enjoy his content as much as he enjoys creating it.

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