Tennessee Titans: Injuries to Draft's Top Cornerbacks Could Change Plans
Injuries to the top cornerbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft could be detrimental to the plight of the Tennessee Titans
The 2017 NFL Draft continues to get more interesting, especially for teams looking for cornerback help. While the draft is considered deep at the position, that depth is being tested, especially at the top.For a team such as the Tennessee Titans, that might not be a good thing.
Though the Titans were active in free agency addressing the back end of their defense, adding Logan Ryan and Johnathan Cyprien, cornerback remains a position of need. But in the past two weeks, we've seen two potential first-round cornerbacks go down with serious injuries at their respective pro days.
First, Washington's talented Sidney Jones suffered an Achilles' tendon injury at his pro day. Then, earlier this week, UCLA's Fabian Moreau tore a pectoral muscle while bench pressing at his pro day. Both are serious injuries that will likely drop Jones and Moreau out of first-round consideration in next month's draft. If you're a team looking for cornerback help, the pool continues to get more shallow in terms of first-round talent.
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The Titans, with the fifth and 18th picks in the first round of the draft, were sitting in a nice spot. They could take the top-rated pass catcher available—possibly tight end O.J. Howard—to help pump up the offense and then grab the best remaining defensive back at 18. Now, with Jones and Moreau likely out of play, the Titans might have to adjust that thinking if they were leaning that way.
With Jones and Moreau injured, there might only be a couple of cornerbacks worthy of being first-round picks in this draft. Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore and Marlon Humphrey of Alabama lead everyone's lists. Outside of those two, beauty will be in the eye of the beholder.
Some teams might still take another corner or two in the first round. But at this point, that group keeps getting smaller. Both Lattimore and Humphrey are the kind of bigger corners with whom defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau likes to work. But Jones and Moreau would have as well.
With Jones and Moreau now likely off the table in the first round, it could cause other teams in need of defensive backfield help to reach. Or, they could be pressed to make a trade up to get one of the top guys.
And with the Titans not having a second-round pick, they might not get a chance to go bargain hunting for either if/when they fall out of the first round. Unless, that is, they are willing to move their two third-round selections to get up into the second round.