In the latest mock draft from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, the Tennessee Titans select Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean and Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert with their first two picks.
Here’s Reuter’s take on a first-round selection of Dean:
“With Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans due to reach free agency, finding a bargain like Dean available here is a bonus. If the former Georgia linebacker outperforms expectations at the NFL Scouting Combine, he will be long gone by this pick.”
While Brown and Evans are indeed hitting free agency and likely won’t be back, Tennessee does have their two starters at the position, Zach Cunningham and David Long, under contract for 2022.
Adding to that, the Titans are three deep at the position when you factor in 2021 third-round pick, Monty Rice. As a result, there’s no chance the team will take a linebacker this early.
Reuter’s third-round pick for the Titans, Ruckert, is a much more realistic selection, as the Titans need an upgrade at tight end after not having an every-down player at the position in 2021.
Tennessee used a three-man rotation with MyCole Pruitt, Geoff Swaim and Anthony Firkser, but each member of that trio is one-dimensional for the most part, and all are set to hit free agency.
Pruitt in particular will have to work his way back from a serious injury.
Ruckert is someone we had the Titans selecting in the third round of our last seven-round mock draft. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end projects to be a solid asset in the passing game, while also bringing skills as a blocker.
