Evans Sets Standard for Titans' First-Round Picks

Inside linebacker has been good -- and getting better -- throughout the first half of 2019

Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports

NASHVILLE – For the Tennessee Titans’ first-round draft picks, the first half of 2019 has not exactly been first rate.

Each of the last seven (over six years) are a part of the 53-man, which – theoretically – should provide a solid foundation on which to build. Yet from Taylor Lewan’s suspension to Marcus Mariota being benched and a bunch of things in between, virtually all of the franchise’s most sizable building blocks have cracked or crumbled in some way over the preceding eight weeks.

Except for Rashaan Evans. Tennessee’s top pick in 2018 has been healthy and productive and has gotten better as he has gone. The inside linebacker has set or matched his personal best for tackles in a game in each of the last five weeks. In fact, he made more stops in those five games than any other member of the defense has all season. That surge has put him on pace to finish with more than 150 tackles, a level few Titans players have reached in recent years.

“No coincidence,” Evans said. “I feel like me being able to just be comfortable, play my game and – literally – just let the game come to me, I’ve been able to do what I’ve been doing. … I’m healthy. I’m able to be able to make plays and be able to run to the ball. I feel that’s the main thing.”

Evans had his own issues a year ago as a rookie. An injury caused him to miss most of training camp, the entire preseason and the 2018 opener. When he finally did get on the field he was at a deficit in terms of experience within the defense. By season’s end he was a part-time starter who followed up his best game (nine tackles against Baltimore) with just two stops the next week.

Sunday at Carolina, he will make his 16 career start. That’s a season’s worth, and the value of that experience is increasingly evident.

“There is a level of – I think – patience to him,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “I think we always talk about making sure that you’re not in a big hurry to go in the wrong direction, that you’re patient. And then once you diagnose it and understand where you need to go, going as fast as you can. He’s improved at that. His tackling is much improved. I think he’s staying on his feet. He’s taking good angles. He’s wrapping. He’s running his feet on contact.”

A rundown of the Tennessee Titans’ first-round draft picks on the current roster and what has happened with them this season:

• Taylor Lewan, left tackle (2014, 11 overall): Served a four-game suspension at the start of the season for violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He loudly proclaimed his innocence and speculated that the positive result was due to a tainted anti-inflammatory supplement he took during the offseason but could not convince anyone in power.

• Marcus Mariota, quarterback (2015, second overall): Struggled with accuracy, failed to produce as expected on third down and in the end zone and reacted poorly too often to the pass rush. After six games coaches had seen enough and named Ryan Tannehill the starter. Since then, the offense has been noticeably better.

• Jack Conklin, right tackle (2016, eighth overall): Entered the season on track to become a free agent in 2020 because the team opted not to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract. He has started every game but missed most of one (L.A. Chargers) with a thigh injury and has been part of an offensive line that is tied for the league lead in sacks allowed with 34.

• Corey Davis (2017, 5 overall): He is the team’s second-leading receiver with 24 receptions for 236 yards, but his catch percentage (60.0) is worst on the team among players with at least five receptions. Plus, he talked all offseason and preseason about his desire to be more consistent but has not had more than three receptions or scored a touchdown in consecutive contests.

• Adoreé Jackson (2017, 18 overall): Poor decision-making cost him his job as the punt returner before halftime of the Week 3 loss at Jacksonville. The combination of his own play and Logan Ryan’s resurgence has turned Jackson from an every-down player to the defense’s third cornerback. He missed a game for the first time last Sunday when a foot injury sidelined him.

• Rashaan Evans (2018, 22 overall): It took him just seven games to match his tackle total from his rookie season (63). He has led the team in stops each of the last five weeks, has set career-highs for sacks (0.5) and tackles for loss (five) and assisted on the tackle that concluded the game-saving goal-line stand against the L.A. Chargers.

• Jeffery Simmons (2019, 19 overall): Offseason knee surgery to correct a knee injury sustained during pre-draft training caused him to miss the first six games. His completed his recovery quicker than most would have expected, and his early play has created excitement about what is to come.

Evans averaged seven tackles through the first three weeks but reached double digits for the first time with 10 against Atlanta. He followed with 10 against Buffalo, 11 against Denver, 11 more against the Los Angeles Chargers and 14 last Sunday against Tampa Bay. His team-leading total at the halfway point of the schedule is 77, including 56 over the last five games. Safety Kenny Vaccaro is second on the team with 54 total tackles.

He also has been the one who has made the calls for the defense. That means he gotten everyone lined up before the snap – and then regularly beaten his teammates to the ball after the snap.

“He’s playing faster because he’s understanding the defense more,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “The more comfortable he becomes, the faster he plays. The faster he plays, the more production he has. Hopefully it just keeps on going.”