INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Titans Online caught up with ESPN analyst Todd McShay to break down his thoughts on the 2015 NFL draft class.
Q: You have Leonard Williams going to the Titans right now in your mock draft, do you also feel like he's the safest pick in the draft?
McShay: "I don't know if he's the safest. The first question the Titans have to answer is do they want to go quarterback or do they really think Mettenberger can be the guy. I've got Williams as the number one player in the draft, so obviously I think highly of him. Obviously there are pass rushers. You've got Randy Gregory, you've got Shane Ray, you've got Dante Fowler Jr., so there's pass rushers on the edge.
Williams is a guy who can play inside and outside, versus the pass and the run. Stopping the run was a big problem for Tennessee last year. They've got to get stronger versus the run and I think Williams will come in and help them do that right away."
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Q: With the 33rd pick, who is an edge rusher who you still see on the board for the Titans in the second round?**
McShay: "Owamagbe Odighizuwa from UCLA is a good second round prospect. I think that second day there's a handful of guys who could be an option. Vic Beasley has a second round grade for me but will probably be a first-round pick. The one thing about this class is that it's very deep in the defensive line/edge guys. I just started diving into it but it seems like every player I watch I see something valuable. I think there will be depth there if they don't get an edge guy in the first round."
Q: Who is your number two safety behind Landon Collins?
McShay: "There's a pretty decent drop off after Collins. I'm kind of going back and forth on that. Josh Shaw (USC) I think is going to be a better safety than cornerback. I like Damarious Randall out of Arizona State as someone who is underrated and could go around the third round. He has a chance to come in and play right away."
Q: Is there a day two or day three receiver that you're high on?
McShay: "Jaelen Strong could get to day two from Arizona State. He's got great hands and is up there with the best ball skills of any receiver in this class. Devin Funchess, wide receiver/tight end from Michigan could go in the second round. Phillip Dorsett from Miami is a little bit undersized and didn't have great production but he's a burner and will run well here. I'm not as big on Sammie Coates because of all the drops, but there's explosiveness there. That kind of ability, especially with a quarterback like Mettenberger throwing the ball, he's someone who can get down the field. There's a lot of speed at receiver. I think Dorsett and Coates will probably run the fastest at the combine and will both be day two or day three guys."
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Q: Who is a player that you're high on, that maybe other draft analysts aren't as high on?**
McShay: "Ereck Flowers, the offensive tackle from Miami is one who stood out. I've got him as the third best offensive tackle. In my opinion he could be a good starting right tackle and maybe a good starting left tackle. I also like Kevin Johnson, cornerback out of Wake Forrest more than I even expected to. I haven't heard a lot of buzz about him but I think he may be the third or fourth best corner. Jalen Collins from LSU is another corner who needs some improvement with his footwork and technique, but from a talent standpoint I think he has a chance to be a really good player."
Q: Who is your third quarterback behind Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota?
McShay: "It won't be decided this week. I've got more tape to watch on all of them, but the drop off is as big as I can ever remember doing this in 15 years between the first two guys and the third."
Q: How will the shallow quarterback class affect the trade market for the second overall pick?
McShay: "The Jets at six are really the only team that could move up to number two. Beyond that I think it would be too expensive for anyone else to move up. The next team that needs a quarterback is the Browns at number 12. If Mariota or Winston started to fall then I think you'd see a team move up. I think the Jets are the one team to keep an eye on."
