It’s officially virtual meeting season for the 2021 NFL Draft and we have the first confirmed meeting for the Titans here. It’s probably not at a position you’d assume it would be:
Titans general manager Jon Robinson recently confirmed that the team has started their process of meeting with this year’s draft class via Zoom, and up until now, we were unaware who any of those meetings were with.
I can now confirm that Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson was one of them.
Playing his football in the MAC conference, Patterson obliterated defenses on a weekly basis. He had one of the finest seasons by a running back in college football history in 2019 when he ran for a single-season school record 1,799 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns, which was also a school record.
Patterson picked up right where he left off in 2020 by rushing for 1,072 yards and 19 touchdowns despite playing in only six games due to the impact that COVID-19 had on Buffalo’s season. Patterson led the nation in yards per game among all running backs (178.7 ypg).
His 2020 season was highlighted by a ridiculous performance vs. Kent State that saw Patterson run for eight rushing touchdowns in a thrilling late November victory.
The Titans are in good shape at the running back position with Derrick Henry and Darrynton Evans, but they’re clearly doing their homework on a fun prospect in Patterson. We don’t blame them.
If we actually draft a guy like this … is it DH22 injury insurance? contract leverage against the King? opportunity to trade Henry for a king’s ransom in a year or two?
Is Patterson more speed, power or both?
Does he catch the ball well?
Hey Daniel. Sorry I’m getting back to you so late. I certainly don’t think the Titans are going to draft an RB early, not for any of your potential reasons listed above.
Patterson was incredibly productive at Buffalo, but nobody would describe him as a “speed” guy. He’s a smart runner that understands how to pick up the yards that are available to him.
Day 3 guy. He can catch the football too.