2016 NFL Draft Candidates to Land the No. 1 Pick- Tennessee Titans

Right after the draft, ESPN released its updated NFL Power Rankings to provide a look at where each team stands. This ranking is a great way to not only look at the strongest teams in the NFL but also identify those who could be fighting for the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Tennessee Titans come in at No. 32 on their ranking which gives them a great shot at landing the top pick in next year’s draft. This article is going to take quick look at the current roster make up, discuss reasons for optimism and thoughts on why there’s little hope.

Roster Strengths:

Defensive line depth and potential is the strongest part of the Titans roster. They feature a stud in Jurrell Casey as well as great system fits such as Sammie Hill, DaQuan Jones, Mike Martin and Karl Klug. This group might not strike fear in opposing offenses but they have the depth to rotate and be very effective.

Tennessee used a lot of resources to strength the secondary this offseason and they should see quick results. Da’Norris Searcy and Perrish Cox are underrated players who bring both experience and upside. They fit in nicely alongside Jason McCourty and Michael Griffin.

More from With the First Pick

I may be in the minority but I love core of Tennessee’s offensive line. They have young studs such as Taylor Lewan and Chance Warmack who appear ready to take the next step in their development. Brian Schwenke is an underrated player and Andy Levitre has a history of strong play.

Roster Weaknesses:

The offensive backfield is the biggest question mark heading into the season. Marcus Mariota is an extremely talented player but he’ll need time to adjust to a new offensive system. It also doesn’t help having inconsistent receivers like Justin Hunter and Hakeem Nicks likely having major roles.

Worst of all, Tennessee’s running back group doesn’t do much to inspire. Bishop Sankey had an underwhelming rookie season and his top backups are utility-player Dexter McCluster and rookie David Cobb.

Mariota’s development is going to be harder without a reliable running game and inconsistent receivers.

Overall Thoughts:

The Titans are building for the future and likely have found the most important block in Maroita. However, young quarterbacks take time to develop and experience a lot of growing pains. This team is also more than a few pieces away from fielding a competitive roster.

If Tennessee lands the top overall pick in next year’s draft they could target someone like Ohio State’s Joey Bosa to add another elite playmaker to the defensive line. Opposing offenses will have a tough time keeping both Bosa and Jurrell Casey out of the backfield.

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