NASHVILLE, Tenn. -ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper is sticking with his Marshon Lattimore pick to the Titans.
But he's done some shuffling on his second first-round pick for the team.
In his most recent mock draft, released on Wednesday morning, Kiper has the Titans taking Lattimore, Ohio State's talented cornerback, with the fifth overall pick of the NFL Draft.
At pick No.18, Kiper then gives the Titans a receiver -- Western Michigan's Corey Davis. Previously, Kiper had the Titans taking Washington receiver John Ross with their second pick in the first round. Kiper now has Ross going 32nd overall, to the Saints.
On a conference call on Wednesday afternoon, Kiper explained why, and gave his take on Tennessee's picks.
"There's been talk that Tennessee could be looking to trade out of 5 and move down," Kiper said. "Keep in mind Tennessee desperately needed a cornerback, and did sign Logan Ryan from New England. So they got their veteran corner. I think they need another one, but now they don't have to prioritize it as much as they once did. I do think Lattimore is worthy of going that high.
"So you get the corner opposite Ryan and you get a guy like Davis, and you've given Marcus Mariota a nice target."
Kiper and fellow analyst Todd McShay updated their mock drafts on Wednesday.
Both Kiper and McShay have the Browns taking Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett first overall, and then have the 49ers selecting Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas with the second overall pick.
Then they have a difference of opinion on several picks.
Kiper gives the Bears Ohio State's Malik Hooker third, and McShay has Chicago selecting Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. At pick No.4, Kiper has the Jaguars taking Allen, and McShay has Jacksonville taking LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
Next up, the Titans.
Here's what they said on espn.com:
Kiper picked Lattimore and said, "The Titans would probably be thrilled at the chance to pick the draft's No. 1 corner. Lattimore is an athletic phenom who doesn't have a ton of experience. He ran a 4.36 40 and had a 38½-inch vertical at the combine, but he started just one season for the Buckeyes. This could be a spot where a team like Cleveland tries to trade up to take the top quarterback.
McShay gives the Titans Hooker at 5.
"I'll go with a different Buckeyes defensive back,'' McShay wrote. "Tennessee added Johnathan Cyprien in free agency, but he's more of a run-stuffer. Hooker can provide the speed, range and elite ball skills the Titans need in the deep middle of the field. I also wouldn't completely rule out LB Haason Reddick with this pick. There's a growing sentiment that he'll be off the board by the time Tennessee picks again in Round 1 at No. 18 overall."
Kiper has the Bengals taking Clemson receiver Mike Williams with the ninth overall pick, and McShay has Davis going off the board to Cincinnati at 9. McShay has Lattimore going No.10 to the Bills.
In selecting Davis for the Titans, on the conference call Kiper said he likes his work ethic, and size. And he has more concerns about Ross, he said.
"(He's) bigger, fast,'' Kiper said of Davis. "The majority of the balls he was targeted with he caught. … And he has ability after the catch … "It is more the injury thing with Ross, and the size. He is not that big, but he is super-fast and he has the versatility and is a great kick returner."
On espn.com, Kiper wrote: "Davis, who had 331 catches for 5,278 yards and 52 touchdowns in his collegiate career, would immediately become Marcus Mariota's top target. The Titans like 2016 fifth-round pick Tajae Sharpe, but he's not a true No. 1 receiver. If Tennessee doesn't take a cornerback at No. 5, this could be the place for one -- it's a deep class."
McShay, meanwhile, has Williams lasting to 18, and Tennessee taking him.
"The Titans didn't upgrade their WR depth chart in free agency, but with two first-round picks, they'll have ample opportunity to do so in late April,'' McShay wrote. "While Williams will need to expand his route tree at the next level, he's an elite WR when the ball is in the air."
