BOCA RATON, Fla. – Jalen Ramsey knows the Titans well. He grew up in the Nashville area, and followed the team.
The Titans are also plenty familiar with Ramsey, who starred at Brentwood Academy and Florida State, and is now a contender for the No.1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Titans coach Mike Mularkey, speaking from the NFL owners meetings, said he's been impressed with what he's seen from Ramsey in pre-draft preparation.
"The ability to play corner at a high level, safety,'' Mularkey said of Ramsey. "If we had to put him at a nickel to play the tight ends that are playing at a high level, he could do that. I like his size and certainly like the way he tackles. He's a very aggressive player. That's rare to have a cover guy who will come up and strike you like he will.
"(He's) smart. There's a lot of things about him that are impressive about him on tape, and in the (15-minute combine) interview."
The Titans are scheduled to pick first overall in the upcoming draft. A cornerback has never been taken with the top pick in the NFL Draft.
"I don't think that has any direction on it, whether it's the first time, second time, whatever,'' Mularkey said of NFL draft history. "If he's the best player that we think is going to help our football team immediately and is best suited for what we want on and off the field, then he could be that guy. But there's other players … to evaluate."
Don't rush out and buy a Ramsey jersey just yet, however.
Mularkey also spoke favorably about Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, another popular pick for the Titans in mock drafts.
The Titans spoke with both players at the NFL Combine, and are expected to spend time with them in the coming weeks at pro days and officials visits.
"He is impressive to watch,'' Mularkey said of Tunsil. "He was impressive at the combine. We have a lot of work to do. We are looking at all of them. His workout and pro day is coming up next week."
The Titans also attended Ohio State's Pro Day earlier this month, where they saw defensive lineman Joey Bosa, among others.
Mularkey is convinced the Titans will get a solid player. He also knows the team might have a chance to make a trade. Other teams have expressed an interest in the pick, he said.
"We have a lot of homework on a lot of guys who are still capable of being drafted in that position,'' Mularkey said. "(It helps) knowing we're OK at that position. We have a lot of other options, including getting out of the pick if we want to."
