NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Which player should the Titans take with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft?
The most popular answer at the NFL Combine over the weekend: Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa and Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey were also named in an informal poll of analysts, however.
Other players are also in consideration, of course. And Titans general manager Jon Robinson has made it clear he'll consider trading the top pick if he can find a fair deal.
Titans Online today makes an argument for and against Tunsil, Bosa and Ramsey:
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Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil**
The argument for Tunsil: Drafting Tunsil would give the Titans bookend offensive tackles to protect quarterback Marcus Mariota. By picking Tunsil, the Titans could play him at left tackle and move Taylor Lewan to the right side. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said Tunsil was "poetry in motion" in drills at the NFL Combine, noting he was "as advertised." Most analysts regard Tunsil as the smart pick for the Titans, who allowed Mariota to be sacked 38 times in 12 starts last season.
The argument against Tunsil: The Titans drafted a left tackle just a few years ago in Lewan, so why move him? While Lewan needs to be more consistent, he battled through a shoulder injury last year, and played well in the second half of the season. Plus, the last thing the Titans need is another youngster in the offensive line room. What they need is a savvy veteran – a Kevin Mawae-type – to set the tone on the field and in the meeting rooms. So they should find that guy in free agency. Plus, Tunsil has some off-field questions stemming from his suspension in 2015.
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Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey**
The argument for Ramsey: Ramsey could change the look of the back end on defense. He's a versatile athlete capable of playing a number of positions, an Eric Berry-type player who could be a star in the NFL for years to come. Need a corner? Ramsey's capable. How about a safety? Ramsey can play there as well. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau loves to have all kinds of unique pieces in his defense, so imagine what he could do with Ramsey.
The argument against Ramsey: It's all about the "value." Only three defensive players have been taken No.1 overall since expansion in 1995. No team has drafted a defensive back first overall in the modern era of football. Some think Ramsey is better suited to play safety than cornerback, and if that's the case, could he really impact a game the same way as one of the big men in the draft? And while no one has questioned Ramsey's ability, he didn't produced a lot of turnovers during his college career. Of course, some of that is because teams stayed away from him.
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Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa**
The argument for Bosa:Put in tape of Super Bowl 50 and you've got a case for Bosa. The Broncos won the game in large part because of a disruptive front seven, and the ability to get to the quarterback. Bosa is an impressive pass-rusher who could add another threat to a defense that already has pass rushers like defensive lineman Jurrell Casey and linebackers Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. Get to the QB fast enough at the pressure is off the secondary. He's also good vs. the run. Some have compared Bosa to a guys like J.J. Watt and Jared Allen.
The argument against Bosa: While Bosa is a unique player, he's probably better suited to play in a 4-3 defensive scheme. Bosa pretty much admitted this at the combine, but said it's because that's all he knows right now. The Titans, of course, run a 3-4 defense. If the Titans want a defensive lineman, Oregon's DeForest Buckner is probably better suited to play in a 3-4 scheme. And while Bosa racked up 13.5 sacks in 2014, he managed just 5.5 a year ago. Plus, the Titans have bigger needs elsewhere.
