Titans’ mini-mock draft 1.0: Time to bolster the defense

By John Glennon

Mock drafts are ambitious efforts even in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, a spin-of-the-wheel or throw-of-the dart in hopes of landing a rare direct hit.

But mock drafts even before the NFL’s free-agency period gets underway?

That’s even more of a guessing game, since we still don’t know which veterans will be coming and going – moves that will create a new roster and reveal a final set of needs.

In the case of the Titans, for instance, we don’t know whether players like Corey Davis, Jonnu Smith, Jayon Brown, DaQuan Jones and Jadeveon Clowney will return or not. We don’t know which players might get cut or traded in the search for more cap space.

All that said, who cares? Mock drafts are entertaining. At this stage, they’re not necessarily about nailing picks exactly, but more about getting an idea of the prospects that are out there – and the strengths/weaknesses of various positions.

With that in mind, here’s my first mini-mock for the Titans, forecasting the team’s picks in the first three rounds. The Titans have one pick in each of those rounds set in stone, and it appears likely they’ll get an additional third-round compensatory pick due to Jack Conklin’s signing in Cleveland last year.

See what you think:

Pick: 1^st round, 22^nd overall

Player: Kwity Paye

Position: Edge rusher

College: Michigan

Height, weight: 6-4, 272 pounds

What to know: We all know the Titans need to get better – much better – at sacking the quarterback, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to add a player who could beef up the team’s run defense as well.

Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: