Should The Titans Go Receiver At No.11?
NASHVILLE - There's no clear-cut answer regarding which position the Tennessee Titans should look to address with their first-round selection, No.11, in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Left tackle and wide receiver are the two positions most believe the Titans will look to select with their first pick in round one. Either would be a wise addition, but do they already have a left tackle set to fill that role this season?
Andre Dillard signed with the Titans in the early stages of free agency and is looking to grab that position. A former first-round pick, Dillard failed to land the starters spot in Philadelphia and then became stuck behind a talented roster of linemen.
When first introduced to the Nashville media, Dillard made clear he intends to be the team's left tackle this season. Still, there has been no public commitment from head coach Mike Vrabel that Dillard is their guy, and the chance remains that the team could add another left tackle come draft day.
However, of late more and more signs seem to be pointing toward the possibility that the Titans will go receiver in round one. During the recent NFL owners' meeting in Arizona, Vrabel was asked about that position group.
"I think we are trying to put the right pieces in place," Vrabel said (via the team's official website). "Whether it's a big, fast guy, a small, fast, guy. [Whether] it's a smaller, quicker player. You're trying to find what the fit and the value is at every position. [General manager] Ran [Carthon] and I and everybody on the coaching staff, personnel side, we all understand we are going to have to find some guys to get open and catch the ball, that are hard to tackle after we catch it. So, we are going to continue to do that."
At the same time, general manager Ran Carthon admitted the team must address the position but also said he liked the current group of receivers already on the roster.
"We are going to look to address it," Carthon said. "We are not trying to fill everything via free agency, but if that's where the best option comes from, we'll address it that way. We just have to be patient, and exercise patience and allow that to come to fruition."
"I like that group. I think it's a young, promising group," Carthon said. "I am really excited to see what a healthy Kyle can do. I think he put some really impressive snaps together in the slot. I think Treylon's best ball is ahead of him. And I am also excited to see what a healthy Nick can do. He played the majority of the year on that knee injury, and just a testament to his toughness, his grit, he finished it out. I am excited about this young group."
Despite those statements, the Titans have spent time with multiple receivers of late, including Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman of Tennessee, following their pro day Thursday. They have reportedly held a private meeting with Cinncinati Bearcat's receiver Tyler Scott.
Though these two positions would appear to be where the Titans will go in round one, there remains the possibility that they could also choose one of the quarterbacks if one that they like slides, or they do as some suggest and trade up to No.3 to snag one of the top four available.
So where exactly will they go at No.11?
We'll all find out on April 27, around 9 p.m.
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