NASHVILLE - The Titans selected Georgia inside linebacker Monty Rice in the third round of Friday night's NFL Draft.
Rice (6-1, 235) was taken with the 92nd overall pick.
The Titans traded the 85th overall pick to the Packers in exchange for Green Bay's pick No.92 in the third round, and 135th pick in the fourth round on Saturday.
"I am very excited," Rice said. "I've been waiting on this moment since I was a kid, and it's special. I am blessed and I am going to come to work every day and live right on and off the field, and do whatever I can to help the team win."
Rice was one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's best linebacker, in 2020. He was a starter at LB in eight of 10 games, when he was in on 49 tackles, and four tackles for a loss.
"You need your linebackers to really be able to run and cover," NFL Network Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said of Rice after the pick was made. "Monty Rice ended up running a 4.57. He has outstanding instincts as an inside linebacker, which is absolutely necessary … He is very aware in coverage. He is so quick and athletic."
Rice started all 14 games for the Bulldogs in 2019, when he racked up 89 tackles, and three tackles for a loss.
Rice was second team All-SEC in 2019, when he was the co-winner of the Vince Dooley Defensive MVP. He earned first team All-SEC accolades in 2020.
"I can call the defense, I can run, I can hit, I can cover," Rice said. "I can do what a three-down linebacker needs to do. In today's NFL you have to be able to run and hit at linebacker, and I think I do a pretty good job at that. But you can always get better."
With the 92nd pick, the Tennessee Titans select Georgia ILB Monty Rice. (AP Images)
Georgia running back Prather Hudson (24) tries to breaks free from Monty Rice (32) during the first half of the G Day inter squad spring football game Saturday, April 21, 2018, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia defensive back Monty Rice (32) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney (1) makes a move to get around Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) knocks the ball from South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Georgia defensive back Monty Rice (32) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Florida running back Dameon Pierce (27) is stopped by Georgia linebacker Monty Rice, lower left, and defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond (11) throws under pressure from Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 19-13. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) pressures Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (12) in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Florida running back Dameon Pierce, right, can't shake a tackle by Georgia linebacker Monty Rice during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) pressures Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (12) in the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) carries the ball in for a touchdown as he gets past Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) escapes from Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) and defensive back Mark Webb (23) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Running back Prather Hudson (24) tries to breaks free from Monty Rice (32) during the first half of Georgia annual G Day inter squad spring football game Saturday, April 21, 2018, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia Tech running back Jordan Mason (27) tries to evade a tackle as Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) holds on during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Austin Peay running back Ahmaad Tanner (21) is hit by Georgia linebacker Monty Rice (32) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Florida running back Lamical Perine (2) is stopped after a short gain by the Georgia defense including linebacker Monty Rice (32) and defensive back J.R. Reed (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
