NASHVILLE – Mel Kiper Jr. is sticking to his guns for the Titans in the NFL Draft.
But on Thursday, he added a twist.
In his latest mock draft for ESPN, the draft analyst selected Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson for the Titans with the 26th pick in the first round. Kiper also previously mocked Dotson to the Titans.
During a conference call on Thursday, however, Kiper discussed a "best case scenario" for the Titans, and it includes a receiver he currently has going No.22 to the Packers.
"I think Dotson is the guy, who, when the ball is in his hands, (he is) dynamic," Kiper said on Thursday. "He is a dynamic performer. Some think he is more of a 2 – and there's some mixed opinions on Jahan Dotson, and that's why I have him going 26. Some think that's a little too high, some think second round. But the majority, the consensus I've built, was more late first. But it wouldn't shock me if he got into the second round."
Kiper also elaborated on other possibilities for the Titans.
"I thought about going o-line (for the Titans at 26), and I went away from that," Kiper said. "I think maybe (later the Titans) could look at Kenneth Walker III (from Michigan State) as a back-up to Derrick (Henry) at some point down the line just a bit, but I don't think he gets into round 3, round 4. I think a running back at some point makes sense."
Then Kiper discussed his best-case scenario for the Titans – North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson, a 6-foot-5, 208-pounder who was a three-year starter and a two-year FCS All-American.
"If you want to say best-case, Watson, with the length he has," Kiper said. "He averaged over 20 yards a catch. … He is great with the ball in his hands, and he had a heck of a Senior Bowl week. He ran well, the length. He is a guy who had a high average per catch every (year). He goes and gets the football with the catch radius. I think the best case scenario for (the Titans) may be Christian Watson, who I had going to Green Bay a little bit earlier."
At North Dakota State, Watson finished No. 4 in NDSU history averaging 20.38 yards per reception and 26.38 yards per kickoff return. He ranked eighth in school history with 2,140 receiving yards and 10th with 105 receptions. He also ranked ninth in Bison history with 686 kickoff return yards and tied the school record with two kickoff return touchdowns.
In his post earlier this week on ESPN.com, here's what Kiper said about Tennessee's pick, when he chose Dotson:
The Titans need to get faster at receiver next to A.J. Brown. That's not Robert Woods' game. Dotson, who ran a 4.43 40 at the combine, caught 91 passes last season, 33 coming from the slot. He would give Ryan Tannehill more easy throws because he can scoot after the catch. Tennessee could also target the best offensive lineman available with this pick. On my board, that would be center Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa), and he could play some guard.
A 5-foot-11, 184-pounder, Dotson played in 42 career games at Penn State, with 38 starts. He recorded 183 receptions for 2,757 yards and 25 touchdowns with the Nittany Lions, with 38 career receptions of 20 or more yards, six career touchdown catches of 60 or more yards and 10 touchdown receptions of 40 or more yards.
Dotson also finished as Penn State's all-time leader in punt return average (17.8).
