Titans 2009 Draft Weekend

[SD2042]

All things draft related involving the Titans will be put into this thread From who the Titans have drafted at #30 to any press conferences.

TEAM NEEDS: Wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, defensive line.


WR—The Titans have only two receivers they can rely upon at the present time—holdover Justin Gage and newcomer free agent Nate Washington, who was a third receiver and deep threat with the Steelers. The Titans have gotten virtually no contribution from recent draft picks like Paul Williams, Chris Davis and Lavelle Hawkins, and will certainly look to bolster this area with one and perhaps two receivers on draft weekend. Their history at receiver suggests that they mine the middle rounds, hoping to strike it rich with a player who develops a la Derrick Mason or Justin McCareins. More often than not, though, they have found only fool’s gold using that strategy.


CB—The Titans are fine with their starters in Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan on one side and veteran Nick Harper on the other. And they liked Vincent Fuller’s work as the nickel cornerback enough to re-sign him to a three-year deal. Beyond that? It’s sketchy at best for the Titans who have only recent signee DeMarcus Faggins and second-year man Cary Williams. Look for the Titans to draft at least one cornerback this year, and perhaps use a high pick to get a future star. Harper has had injuries the

past two seasons, and at 34 and coming off groin surgery, is not a lock to play 16 games. Finding a capable backup is a must.


LB—The starters are solid and steady, if not star quality, especially with Keith Bulluck and David Thornton on the outside. Stephen Tulloch is emerging in the middle, and despite being on the short side at 5-11, has a natural knack for finding the ball carrier and the ball. Behind them however, there are only unproven players and mostly special teamers. Ryan Fowler, a former starter in the middle, is the best of the lot. With Bulluck and Tulloch both free agents to be in 2010, addressing the future of this position should be done now rather than later.


DL—Like the linebacking corps, the Titans feel pretty good about what they have now, even with losing Albert Haynesworth in free agency. But this is another area that could be ravaged by free agency at year’s end. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line—Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse and Tony Brown—are all entering the last years of their respective contracts. A defensive end and perhaps a tackle is certainly a possibility on draft day. If a player like Missouri’s Evander “Ziggy” Hood were on the board at their pick, it might be hard for the Titans to say no, even with bigger needs at other positions.





Titans Looking for Best Player at No. 30 Overall
http://www.titansonline.com/news/articl ... 74df41b680

The timing couldn't be more perfect for the Tennessee Titans to take a risk the franchise hasn't tried since 1998.

Draft a wide receiver in the first round.

The Titans, coming off an NFL-best 13-3 record, don't have a gaping hole at any starting spot that must be filled with the 30th pick overall. They have 10 picks combined to add depth at cornerback and linebacker, but wide receiver is the position where help is most needed even with the free agent signing of Nate Washington.

Their recent strategy of drafting batches of receivers in the third round or later produced only Brandon Jones, who left for San Francisco as a free agent in March. Tyrone Calico, the last receiver taken higher than the third round in 2003, was a bust.

Mix that with a draft top heavy with quality receivers and the Titans could use their first round pick Saturday on a wideout for the first time since Kevin Dyson in 1998 -- and for only the third time in franchise history.

General manager Mike Reinfeldt cautioned 29 players will go off the board before the Titans pick, barring any trade up.

"That's something that could lead to help us," Reinfeldt said.

The Titans certainly have studied the receivers available in this draft. They have visited with Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland, Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina, Kenny Britt of Rutgers and Florida's Percy Harvin. Mohamed Massaquoi of Georgia and Nashville native Patrick Turner of USC are receivers who could be targets in the second or third rounds.

The need is there.

Draft Party This Saturday With Kyle Vanden Bosch

PRE-DRAFT PRESS CONFERENCE

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009


General Manager Mike Reinfeldt, National Supervisor of College Scouting C.O. Brocato, Eastern Director of College Scouting Mike Ackerley, Scouting Coordinator Blake Beddingfield



GM MIKE REINFELDT


(opening comments)


I want to thank everybody for taking the time to be with us today. We would like to take a little time to kind of bring you up-to-date on the draft. At this point of time the process has been going on for a number of weeks obviously. The last two weeks we have had meetings with the scouts every day, long hours. The board is stacked, all the players are up there and the final grades are on them. We have had meetings with the coaches, input from the coaches and gotten their feel on certain players and how they fit the system and how they fit into what we do and position groupings. We have looked at those things. Jeff [Fisher] and I have had a number of discussions, kind of what if scenarios, different move up, move down, trade and how we view certain players. That is kind of where we are in the process right now. I think tomorrow we will finish up and finish the 150 board. What I would like to do is open it up for questions. You can direct your questions to whoever you feel it is appropriate, but specific players they probably would be very good at that. With that, we will open it up to questions.

[I Am Awesome-O]

Assuming Tennessee keeps their 1st round their pick (which I am pretty sure they will), I think they will go defense with it. If that is the case, I want Brian Cushing or Alphonso Smith.

The Titans need to get a receiver though. I read that Cleveland is desperate to trade Braylon Edwards today, and the Giants are offering a 2nd and 5th to get him, and that offer could be the best Cleveland gets for him. Tennessee should offer a 2nd and 4th, and maybe add another pick if Cleveland doesn't bite. Coming out with Cushing/Smith and Edwards on the first day would be HUGE.

[SD2042]

I question Edwards consistancy of catching the ball well on the run as he had his share od issues of completing his catches last season. One more name the Titans have been link to as of late is Anquan Boldin.

[SD2042]

The Titans select #30 Kenny Britt out from Rutgers.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... t?id=71217

[SD2042]

Round 1, Pick 30 (30) Kenny Britt WR 6'3" 218 Rutgers
Round 2, Pick 30 (62)
Round 3, Pick 30 (94)
Round 4, Pick 30 (130)
Round 4, Pick 35 (135) (Compensatory selection)
Round 5, Pick 37 (173) (Compensatory selection)
Round 6, Pick 30 (203)
Round 6, Pick 33 (206) (Compensatory selection)
Round 7, Pick 30 (239)
Round 7, Pick 33 (242) (Compensatory selection)

[SD2042]

30 (62) Titans Marks, Sen'Derrick DT 6'2" 306 Auburn
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... s?id=79603

25 (89) Titans (From Patriots) Cook, Jared TE 6'5" 246 South Carolina
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... k?id=71265

30 (94) Titans Mouton, Ryan CB 5'9" 187 Hawaii
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... n?id=79621

30 (130) Titans McRath, Gerald LB 6'2" 231 Southern Miss
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... h?id=79854

35 (135) Titans (Compensatory selection) Kropog, Troy OT 6'6" 309 Tulane
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... g?id=71359

37 (173) Titans (Compensatory selection) Ringer, Javon RB 5'9" 205 Michigan State
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... r?id=79635

[SD2042]

30 (203) Titans McCourty, Jason CB 6'0" 193 Rutgers
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... y?id=89756

[SD2042]

33 (206) Titans (Compensatory selection) Edison, Dominique WR 6'2" 204 Stephen F Austin
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/ ... n?id=79553

[SD2042]

http://www.titansonline.com/news/articl ... 2635c38503

Conference during the draft from Reinfeldt and Fisher. Good read.

[Kyrama]

I'm a Rutgers student and Giants fan. You guys will be extremely happy with Britt. He saved our season from being a complete disaster. I was hoping we'd draft him, but oh well.

[SD2042]

Good to hear some positive things on Britt. Hopefully he'll help turn the Titans WR core around from the bottom of the ratings when the season comes up in September.