Draft Grades: Titans

I am almost always against drafting a wide receiver in the 1st round, and the Titans situation is no exception. The Titans have a very small window of opportunity with Kerry Collins as their quarterback and Kenny Britt is unlikely to make an instant impact. It almost always takes receivers two full years before they live up to expectations. The Anquan Boldin's of the world only come along every so often. Britt could end being an elite receiver, but odds are it won't be with Kerry Collins as his quarterback. There were other players available that could have make a more immediate need in Tennessee.

Sen'Derrick Marks was a decent late 2nd-round selection. The Titans clearly needed someone to at least attempt to fill the very large shoes left behind by Albert Haynesworth. Marks won't live up to the standard set by Haynesworth, but he could win the starting job.

Jared Cood was a steal in the 3rd round. His blocking ability is well below average, which hurts his abilty to be an every down player. However, with Bo Scaife already on the roster, the Titans only need Cook to be a situational player. He'll give them exactly what they're looking for.

Ryan Mouton was one of the bigger reaches of the draft. He easily could have gone undrafted. Cornerback was a need, but there were plenty of others on the board that would have been a better fit.

Gerald McRath is very raw, but has a ton of upside. He's the best athlete in this year's crop of linebackers and was a tackle machine at Southern Miss. He'll be a standout on special teams right away and could develop into a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker. Then again, he could completely flame out in a year or two. He's a boom-or-bust prospect.

Javon Ringer was a safe 5th-round selection. He makes Chris Henry expendable and someone is likely to want to overpay for the former 2nd-round pick.

Jason McCourty has experience at safety and cornerback and that type of versatility always increases a player's value in the late rounds. He's likely to make the team and should be an adequate backup and special teams player.

Dominique Edison is a good developmental prospect. He has impressive size and speed and could develop into a quality receiver. He won't make an impact immediately however.

Ryan Durand and Nick Schommer were both selections purely based on adding depth. With as many picks as the Titans had, and as few holes to fill, its unlikely that either player spends much time on the active roster.

Overall this was a decent draft for the Titans, but they failed to add the type of immediate impact player that could put them over the top in 2009. A cornerback, defensive tackle or inside linebacker would all have been smart 1st-round picks. As I said, Britt could develop into an elite receiver, but the Titans are within reach of a Championship and a rookie receiver is unlikely to play a significant role in that.

Grade: B