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Laremy Tunsil makes sense for the Titans at No. 1 overall — if they don’t trade the pick
By John Crist
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It’s a bit of a strange year at the top of the NFL draft. Rare is it that the best player available isn’t a quarterback. But rarer still is the team with the first pick not desperately looking for a quarterback.
Such is the case in 2016, as the Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 selection after a 2-14 disaster last season. However, just a year ago, Tennessee took former Oregon signal caller Marcus Mariota with the second choice in the draft. Despite missing four games due to injury, the 6-foot-4, 222-pounder looks to be the franchise passer the Titans so desperately needed. He’s the guy under center, no question.
The premier prospects at the game’s most important position appear to be Jared Goff of California, Carson Wentz of North Dakota State and Paxton Lynch of Memphis. Nevertheless, none of them is a no-brainer No. 1.
This is a franchise with obvious needs on both sides of the ball, but Mariota in particular could use some help. The offense finished 30th in total yards per game — 25th in rushing, 25th in passing. The club’s leading rusher, Antonio Andrews, was credited with just 520 yards on the ground. No wide receiver in the locker room caught more than 36 passes. The line allowed 54 sacks. Mariota had eight fumbles as a result.
According to Terry McCormick, who covers Tennessee for Titan Insider, Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil will be in the conversation for this coveted honor. If it still owns the selection, of course.
“The primary reason the Tennessee Titans should be considering Laremy Tunsil with the first-overall pick is that GM Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Mularkey have both stated that protecting Marcus Mariota is their top priority,” McCormick told Saturday Down South. “The Titans will certainly listen to trade offers for the top pick, but if they can’t find a taker, then drafting Tunsil and installing him at left tackle makes some sense.”
Best of all, adding Tunsil could be a two-birds-with-one-stone situation. The Titans were relatively weak at both of the bookend positions. In a salary-cap sport, being economical is a must every step of the way.
“Tennessee spent a first-round pick in 2014 on left tackle Taylor Lewan,” McCormick said. “If Tunsil comes aboard, they would shift Lewan to the right side, which would fill another gaping hole on a roster that needs replenishing in a number of spots.”
No matter how much the Titans like Tunsil during the evaluation process, they have to be hoping that Goff, Wentz or Lynch takes the Scouting Combine by storm. Their position at No. 1 would be much more valuable.
The Cleveland Browns are in the market for a passer at No. 2 after the Johnny Manziel tire fire. The Dallas Cowboys completely fell apart with Tony Romo injured — they sit at No. 4. The San Francisco 49ers are at No. 7 and have watched Colin Kaepernick regress instead of improve. The Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans are all surely searching for a QB at 13th, 15th and 22nd, respectively.
If, for example, Goff gives the impression that he could very well be the next Aaron Rodgers, perhaps one of the aforementioned teams sends a package of picks and players to Tennessee in return for the top spot.
But if not, then the Titans could do much worse than grabbing Tunsil. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder was a five-star recruit out of high school and didn’t disappoint during his time with the Rebels. Not only is he light on his feet, but he packs a powerful punch to keep pass rushers at bay — he didn’t give up a sack all season. Of all the players that could shake the commissioner’s hand, he’s likely the most bulletproof.
If Tunsil is indeed the first to hear his name called, it doesn’t sound as if it would come as that much of a surprise to him.
“That’s been my goal since I was a kid,” he told reporters non-chalantly Wednesday during his time at the podium.
It’s a lofty goal, to say the least. Only four offensive tackles in the history of the draft have gone No. 1. But he’s as good a candidate as any to be the fifth.
John Crist is an award-winning contributor to Saturday Down South.
