The Tennessee Titans select Jack Conklin with the 8th pick in the NFL draft

The Tennessee Titans traded down to 15 in their mega deal with the Los Angeles Rams. It was widely believed that if they stayed at #1 overall, they would have taken Laremy Tunsil from Mississippi. The Titans just pulled off a trade with a lot of their extra picks to move back up in the draft to #8 but not to draft their previous target. They took Jack Conklin instead.

Conklin is undeniably one of the strongest players in this draft. Once he gets his hands on you, it’s over. You’ve been blocked by him. The problem with Conklin is that his mechanics are flawed in places. He opens up his stance far too wide and this leaves him vulnerable to speed rushers. His strengths and flaws were best seen in his matchup against DeForest Buckner in 2015. He could handle Buckner’s power, but he couldn’t handle his quickness. It was a very uneven game for him and that’s the best way to see him: uneven.

The Titans acquired DeMarco Murray to run a power based running attack. Conklin’s value to them will be in this. At left tackle, he’s going to be a battering ram that pushes defenders out of the way and clears open lanes for Murray. The concern with him is that speed rushers will probably always give him fits. However, with Mariota at quarterback his mobility might let Conklin off the hook.

The Titans traded away a 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft and their 2017 2nd round pick to move up 7 picks. They got a 2016 6th round pick as part of the deal as well.  The Titans still have a load of draft picks from their mega deal with the Rams to fill other needs.