NASHVILLE – Check the mock drafts, and a lot of folks have the Titans picking an offensive tackle, a defensive lineman, or a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has something else in mind for Tennessee.
Jeremiah, a former NFL scout with the Ravens, Browns and Eagles, tabbed Arizona State receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the Titans at pick No. 29.
And on a conference call on Wednesday afternoon, Jeremiah explained why.
"I love Brandon Aiyuk – he's my fifth receiver," Jeremiah said. "He is so sudden and so quick. I know the 40-time says 4.50, but he plays a lot faster than that. And one of the things that is unique about him is he has rare length. He is really long."
In revealing his mock, Jeremiah said he "love(s) Aiyuk's game and his toughness would fit the culture in Tennessee."
A former junior-college player, Aiyuk racked up 1,192 of his 1,666 career receiving yards and eight of his 11 career receiving touchdowns in 2019. The 6-foot, 205-pound Aiyuk ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In 2020, the Titans return A.J. Brown, a second-round pick in last year's NFL Draft who racked up 1,051 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, along with receivers Corey Davis and Adam Humphries. Kalif Raymond and Cameron Batson are also among those set to compete for roster spots this fall.
Aiyuk would add another playmaker, Jeremiah said.
"You'd get somebody who could make plays in traffic with his toughness," Jeremiah said, "and he is phenomenal after the catch. And he can help you in the return game as well – he's really good in that department. So just getting the ball in his hands and letting him go make plays."
On the conference call, Jeremiah mentioned some players who could fill other needs for the Titans at pick No.61.
He named Oklahoma's Neville Gallimore, Missouri's Jordan Elliott, and Baylor's James Lynch as defensive linemen the Titans could snag in the second round.
"And at the corner spot, I really like (Tulsa)'s Reggie Robinson – I think he's a great player," Jeremiah said. "And (Noah) Igbinoghene from Auburn is a tough one because he has the athletic ability and the toughness that you love, but he just really struggled to find the football and hasn't made many plays. He has first-round athleticism and he has late-round production, so trying to sort him out is a tricky one.
"Damon Arnette from Ohio State, he is my 59th player, so he's somebody that could be in the mix (for the Titans) at that point and time. He's really physical, really tough, can find and play the ball. His short area of quickness is outstanding, and he is aggressive against the run. He's just a little bit tight, a little bit rigid, and didn't run as fast – he ran a 4.56. So, I think he's another one where it's right about that time in the draft for him as well."
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25.
Tennesseetitans.com looks back at all of the first-round draft picks in franchise history.
Tennesseetitans.com looks back at all of the first-round draft picks in franchise history.
2019 | Round 1 | Pick: 19 | DT Jeffery Simmons - Mississippi State
2018 | Round 1 | Pick: 22 | LB Rashaan Evans - Alabama
2017 | Round 1 | Pick: 5 | WR Corey Davis - Western Michigan
2017 | Round 1 | Pick: 18 | CB Adoree' Jackson - USC
2016 | Round 1 | Pick: 8 | OT Jack Conklin - Michigan State
2015 | Round 1 | Pick: 2 | QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon
2014 | Round 1 | Pick: 11 | OT Taylor Lewan - Michigan
2013 | Round 1 | Pick: 10 | G Chance Warmack - Alabama
2012 | Round 1 | Pick: 20 | WR Kendall Wright - Baylor
2011 | Round 1 | Pick: 8 | QB Jake Locker - Washington
2010 | Round 1 | Pick: 16 | DE Derrick Morgan - Georgia Tech
2009 | Round 1 | Pick: 30 | WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers
2008 | Round 1 | Pick: 24 | RB Chris Johnson - East Carolina
2007 | Round 1 | Pick: 19 | S Michael Griffin - Texas
2006 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | QB Vince Young - Texas
2005 | Round 1 | Pick: 6 | CB Adam Jones - West Virginia
2003 | Round 1 | Pick: 28 | CB Andre Woolfolk - Oklahoma
2002 | Round 1 | Pick: 15 | DT Albert Haynesworth - Tennessee
2000 | Round 1 | Pick: 30 | LB Keith Bulluck - Syracuse
1999 | Round 1 | Pick: 16 | DE Jevon Kearse - Florida
1998 | Round 1 | Pick: 16 | WR Kevin Dyson - Utah
1997 | Round 1 | Pick: 18 | Kenny Holmes - Miami (Fla.)
1996 | Round 1 | Pick: 14 | RB Eddie George - Ohio State
1995 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | QB Steve McNair - Alcorn State
1994 | Round 1 | Pick: 26 | DT Henry Ford - Arkansas
1993 | Round 1 | Pick: 13 | T Brad Hopkins - Illinois
1990 | Round 1 | Pick: 15 | LB Lamar Lathon - Houston
1989 | Round 1 | Pick: 23 | T David Williams - Florida
1988 | Round 1 | Pick: 22 | RB Lorenzo White - Michigan State
1987 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | RB Alonzo Highsmith - Miami
1987 | Round 1 | Pick: 20 | WR Haywood Jeffires - North Carolina State
1986 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | QB Jim Everett - Purdue
1985 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | DT Ray Childress - Texas A&M
1985 | Round 1 | Pick: 11 | CB Richard Johnson - Wisconsin
1984 | Round 1 | Pick: 2 | T Dean Steinkuhler - Nebraska
1983 | Round 1 | Pick: 9 | G Bruce Matthews - USC
1982 | Round 1 | Pick: 8 | G Mike Munchak - Penn State
1978 | Round 1 | Pick: 1 | RB Earl Campbell - Texas
1977 | Round 1 | Pick: 11 | T Morris Towns - Missouri
1975 | Round 1 | Pick: 6 | LB Robert Brazille - Jackson State
1975 | Round 1 | Pick: 15 | RB Don Hardeman - Texas AM-Kingsville
1973 | Round 1 | Pick: 14 | RB George Amundson - Iowa State
1973 | Round 1 | Pick: 1 | DE John Matuszak - Tampa
1972 | Round 1 | Pick: 6 | OT Greg Sampson - Stanford
1971 | Round 1 | Pick: 3 | QB Dan Pastorini - Santa Clara
1970 | Round 1 | Pick: 14 | G Doug Wilkerson - North Carolina Central
1969 | Round 1 | Pick: 15 | LB Ron Pritchard - Arizona State
1967 | Round 1 | Pick: 5 | LB George Webster - Michigan State
1967 | Round 1 | Pick: 23 | G Tom Regner - Notre Dame
1966 | Round 1 | Pick: 5 | LB Tommy Nobis - Texas
1965 | Round 1 | Pick: 2 | WR Larry Elkins - Baylor
1964 | Round 1 | Pick: 6 | DT Scott Appleton - Texas
1963 | Round 1 | Pick: 6 | LB Danny Brabham - Arkansas
1962 | Round 1 | Pick: 7 | DT Ray Jacobs - Howard Payne
1961 | Round 1 | Pick: 8 | TE Mike Ditka - Pittsburgh
1960 | Round 1 | Pick: 1 | HB Billy Cannon - LSU
