Titans select receiver, cornerback on final day of NFL draft

By foxsports
Published

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans added another target for Marcus Mariota in the passing game, taking wide receiver Tajae Sharpe of Massachusetts with their first pick of the final day of the draft.

The Titans waited about two hours Saturday before kicking off the fifth round by taking Sharpe with the 140th pick overall. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Sharpe led the nation with 111 catches for 1,319 yards last season, and he can't wait to get to work with Mariota.

''Oh, it sounds great to me catching passes from a former Heisman Trophy winner,'' Sharpe said. ''I just want to hurry up and get down to Nashville and get to work with the great, upcoming quarterback. He's a young guy as well, so I want to get our chemistry going as well and help the Titans get some more wins.''

With three picks left, the Titans traded back into the fifth round with Denver for the 157th selection and selected cornerback LeShaun Sims of Southern Utah. To draft the 6-foot, 203-pound Sims, the Titans gave up the 176th pick and a 2017 sixth-round pick to move up to 157.

The Titans also picked up the final pick in the draft also known as Mr. Irrelevant at No. 253.

This marks new general manager Jon Robinson's fourth trade since free agency started and third in this draft. That left the Titans one pick in the sixth round at No. 193 and two in the seventh.

Sharpe is the third offensive player taken by the Titans in this draft, joining offensive tackle Jack Conklin of Michigan State selected with the eighth pick overall and Heisman Trophy winning running back Derrick Henry of Alabama at No. 45 overall. The Titans needed a wide receiver despite signing Rishard Matthews away from Miami in free agency.

Wide receiver was an issue for the Titans all last season as Tennessee started by keeping four players at the position. Injuries limited Kendall Wright to 10 games and Justin Hunter to nine before a dislocated ankle. Harry Douglas led the unit with 36 catches, while rookie Dorial Green-Beckhkam had 549 yards receiving.

Sharpe went to the Senior Bowl, though an injury kept him from playing in the game. He said he worked out for the Titans and sees himself as a strong route runner with good hands.

Tennessee also drafted linebacker Kevin Dodd of Clemson, defensive tackle Austin Johnson of Penn State and Middle Tennessee safety Kevin Byard on Friday night.

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