CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Rumors swirled around the league Thursday that the Tennessee Titans were looking to trade down by shopping the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
According to reports, Titans general manager Jon Robinson spoke with multiple teams about the idea. Many also predicted that if the team did decide to stand pat, cornerback or defensive end would likely be positions they would address. Instead when it was their time to pick, the Titans selected offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson out of Georgia.
After losing right tackle Jack Conklin to the Cleveland Browns via free agency, the move helps sure up the Titans offensive line for the foreseeable future.
In 2018, the team locked up left tackle Taylor Lewan with a five-year contract extension while also making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league at the time.
Offensive guard Rodger Saffold then joined Tennessee the following offseason, signing a four-year $44 million deal.
One question that drafting Wilson does raise is now what happens to Dennis Kelly? The Titans gave Kelly $21 million reasons to stay with the team at the conclusion of last season, presumably to be their starting right tackle moving forward. Maybe Tennessee wants to bring Wilson along slowly in year one and have Kelly mold the young rookie or maybe they feel Kelly is better suited in his previous role with the team as a backup.
Either way, the Titans now turn their attention to other areas of need with six more picks remaining in the draft. On Friday, they have two more to make with one coming in each of the second and third rounds (No. 61 and No. 93 overall), as well as four more on Saturday (one in the fifth round and three in the seventh).
Some possible names the Titans could choose to take on Friday include Amik Robertson from Louisiana Tech, Josh Uche from Michigan and Cam Akers from Florida State.
Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft lived up to the hype and more fireworks can likely be expected over the next two days of the event.