BTSC Mock Draft - Pick #24 by Tennessee Titans: Devon Thomas, WR, Michigan State

by Blitzburgh on Apr 17, 2008 1:38 PM EDT in News

We continue to approach the end of the 1st Round with the Tennessee Titans selection at #24. cgolden fills in as the Titans' GM for a day, and as he mentions below, Titans executives would certainly be ecstatic if Devon Thomas fell in to their lap. Next up? The Seattle Seahawks, represented by vherub.

The Titans have two big areas of need: Wide Receiver and Defensive Line. Outside of the top two needs, the linebacker corps could use an infusion of youth and talent.

Need Area #3: Line Backers

The group of line backers is pretty unspectacular with Keith Bulluck being the only name that many outside of Tennessee that people may recognize. Bulluck is now on the wrong side of 30, having turned 31 earlier this month and it showed in his play last season. After averaging just over 138 tackles and 3.5 sacks a season for the past five seasons, he managed just 88 tackles and zero sacks in 2007. The MLB is Ryan Fowler who managed just 54 tackles in his first season as a starter, but he's young enough (25 years old) that Tennessee might hold out hope for him becoming more. David Thornton is the other outside backer and at 29 years old they're probably holding out hope that he can turn in another 122 tackle season like he had in 2007.

Prospects available include: Dan Connor

Need Area #2: Defensive Line

The defensive line was decimated by free agency as they lost Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Randy Starks. In case you didn't watch much Titan football last year those three guys combined for 49 tackles and 14 sacks. The DL will be anchored by Albert Haynesworth (franchised in the offseason) who when healthy last year was nothing short of dominant. The Titans were just 2-3 in games that he missed (8-3 otherwise) and the defense suffered as well giving up nearly 25 points a game in his absence (15.7 in games others). Most of his help will come from Kyle Vanden Bosch who has averaged over 10 sacks a season in his three seasons in Tennessee. The rest of the line will consist of Tony Brown (52 tackles and four sacks in 07) and Bryce Fisher who didn't start a game last year. The Titans signed 'The Freak' Javon Kearse in the off- season but he'll likely be nothing more than a pass rush specialist at this point in his career. He might be able to put up some decent numbers if his snaps are limited.

Prospects available include: Philip Merling, Calais Campbell & Kentwan Balmer

Need Area #1: Wide Receiver

The wide receiver position is nothing short of an absolute joke. The fact that a team can manage a winning record with starting receivers, Justin Gage & Roydell Williams is amazing. The Titans signed Justin McCareins in the off season but he's just another guy and by no means should be counted on as a legit #1. Their current depth chart of wide receiver doesn't contain a single guy who's ever had more than 813 yards and 7 touchdowns (and that was McCareins 5 years ago). Gage and Williams combined for just over 1,400 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2007 and those were career years for both players. If the Titans enter the season with the current group of wide receivers it'll be the worst in the league by far. If the Titans have any hope of helping VY turn into a quality starting quarterback and improving the 27th ranked passing attack they'll have to get a receiver early in the draft.

Prospects available include: Devin Thomas & Deshean Jackson

On the Clock

If I'm the Titans in this situation (oh wait I am), I'm doing back flips that both Thomas and Jackson fell this far as they're ranked #1 and #2 among wide outs by some scouts. If one or both of these guys were gone, I might have to give some consideration to Connor or some defensive line help, but with both guys here for the choosing it's a no-brainer. Even though neither player is as 'NFL ready' as Limas Sweed or Malcom Kelly, they're still both explosive playmakers who should contribute immediately in the return game. Jackson might be a bit more explosive but I see Thomas as being the better wide receiver long term mainly because of his size (6'2 215), so with the 24th pick the Tennessee Titans select Devin Thomas.

BTSC Mock Draft Team Selections

#1 - Miami Dolphins, Darren Mcfadden
#2 - St. Louis Rams, Chris Long
#3 - Atlanta Falcons, Sedrick Ellis
#4 - Oakland Raiders, Vernon Gholston
#5 - Kansas City Chiefs, Jake Long
#6 - New York Jets, Glen Dorsey
#7 - New England Patriots, Dominique Rodger-Cromartie
#8 - Baltimore Ravens, Jerod Mayo
#9 - Cincinnati Bengals, Keith Rivers
#10 - New Orleans Saints, Aqib Talib
#11 - Buffalo Bills, Malcom Kelly
#12 - Denver Broncos, Ryan Clady
#13 - Carolina Panthers, Chris Williams
#14 - Chicago Bears, Brandon Albert
#15 - Detroit Lions, Leodis McKelvin
#16 - Arizona Cardinals, Jeff Otah
#17 - Minnesota Vikings, Derrick Harvey
#18 - Houston Texans, Rashard Mendenhall
#19 - Philadelphia Eagles, Jonathan Stewart
#20 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Limas Sweed
#21 - Washington Redskins, Mike Jenkins
#22 - Dallas Cowboys, Felix Jones
#23 - Pittsburgh, Kentwan Balmer

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Comments

Interesting about receivers

First, nice job CGold. Very thoughtful. The Titans desparately need a skilled receiver to help Vince Young.

That position, more than any other (I think), has seen the top six guys take turns at every ranking position. That's interesting. I know the rank stuff and mocks change almost daily, and individuals will plummet or surge, but rarely does the top six go topsy turvy like this.

Part of that is that the position itself offers different aspects, e.g. speed, slot, tall, etc.

All that said, suppose that all wide receivers were available at pick #23 and there was a rule that the Steelers had to get one there this year. Who would you take? How would you rank them for our team?

I hope I don't derail the Titans/Devon Thomas conversation, and CGold's thoughtful efforts, but I am curious as to my "side" question. In fact, Mel Kiper now has us taking a wide receiver.

by maryrose on Apr 17, 2008 2:17 PM EDT 0 recs

serious?

No disrespect cgolden, but on to the Steelers indeed? Kiper had us taking a WR in Round 1? Who'd he mention maryrose?

by Blitzburgh on Apr 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

He has us with Malcom Kelly

And he has been saying we need help in the trenches. Maybe he thinks it best for us to get BPA here instead of reaching just to deal with the trenches?

by maryrose on Apr 17, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

wow

He's probably the last one of the top 4 (Sweed, Jackson, Thomas, Kelly) that I'd want the Steelers to make a run at. I know he's had a hell of a career at OK, but his workouts have been terrible and he's blamed every one but himself.

I'd rather reach for James Hardy, myself. The tallest wide reciever yet still one of the fastest. He's still raw but I love his potential.

by cgolden on Apr 17, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Interestingly

Kiper has Hardy going 24th, right after us, to Tennessee

by maryrose on Apr 17, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hardy

I'd much rather have him that Kelly.

by cgolden on Apr 17, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Draft Scout's latest mock

Chad Reuter, the other scout at NFLDS, had the Steelers taking Limas Sweed in the first round with his latest mock (posted yesterday). He also has them taking Anthony Collins (Kansas OT) in the second. Can't say I'd be too terribly disapointed with that draft, as long as the third round pick was a DL (can anyone say Kendall Langford).

Reuter's not the same guy that did the Q&A with Blitz a week or so ago but is another draft guru at NFLDS.

by cgolden on Apr 18, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

great pick, Thomas is the best WR in the draft

and certainly fills a huge Titans need.

by Terry on Apr 17, 2008 5:37 PM EDT 0 recs

I actually have Thomas

Penciled in for the Cowboys. I think he would benefit them more than anybody.

by maryrose on Apr 17, 2008 6:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Terry

I heard that MB3 is looking for a 50-60 million dollar contract. I like that guy as much as anyone else but there's no way he'll get close to that. I think he should be looking for something much closer to Micheal Turner's contract. Agree?

by cgolden on Apr 17, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

barber

I think he deserves more than Michael Turner. He's more accomplished and about the same age. Turner might have been overpaid in the eyes of many, but if that's the market rate for him, than it has to be higher for Barber.

my two cents

by Blitzburgh on Apr 18, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

I absolutely agree cgolden

Most Cowboys fans are really pissed he's asking for so much, but I think these are just opening numbers in the negotiation process, my gut feeling is that he's worth more around the 35 million dollar range.

My reasoning is that although he is a great back, he's not really a feature, lead back because of his running style. He absorbs too much contact and direct hits to last an entire season so he really needs another back to share the carries.

I would only pay a workhorse lead back LT or LJ type of money.

by Terry on Apr 18, 2008 8:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

MB3

That's the big question about Barber, can he be a workhorse?

I love his running style but I'm with you I don't think he could handle 20-25 carries a game. He would wear himself out. Blitz brings up a good point though, I'm sure Barber would feel insulted if the Boys offered him something around the contract of Turner. Barber is far more accomplished and him making the Pro Bowl last year will help him drive that point home even more. The Cowboys will likely have to overpay Barber b/c Turner was overpaid.

by cgolden on Apr 18, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Over Paying

I always find it annoying when poorly managed teams over pay players. Jacking up the prices for all teams.
As for MB3, I like him. He is one of the few backs out there I wouldn't mind seeing in the Black and Gold, but not for 25M let alone 50M. It will be interesting if this sways how Dallas drafts.

by SteelBuckeye on Apr 18, 2008 5:51 PM EDT 0 recs