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[charleytolar]

8 hours ago, Grizz said:

Here's one for you, charley, ninja, others. 

 

 

 

All the evidence right now seems to be pointing to the team staying put and taking Cam Ward. I don't hate it. He's got all the tools and could be a special player that (if given time, protection, and weapons) can elevate the team. Or at least let's hope that's the case. 

 

Taking Ward, and failing to trade down, does mean we are limited in our ability to get an impact player at multiple positions of need (a trade down for example could get us an additional second and third at the least). This means one of EDGE, OL, and WR gets left out. It also means we don't really have enough capital to chase the strength of this draft, a high end RB. 

 

So here this mock has to assume we at least get one quality Offensive Lineman in free agency, as well as another quality DE. A fair assumption. 

 

The draft then: 

 

35: Donovan Ezeiruaku: there is something poetic about replacing an ultra productive pass rusher from Boston College with an ultra productive pass rusher from Boston College. In fact, it was Ezeiruaku who broke Landry's single season sack record at BC. Seriously, go look at the wiki for these guys, the measurables and the combine. That office meme about it "being the same picture" applies here.

 

I suppose the knock on him is that he is undersized and might be ineffective in the run. Like Landry, maybe he slips to round 2. 

 

Now we are out  of true impact players, and for me it is all about finding gems. Latham Ransom produced for the best team in the country and is from a team with a track record of producing NFL caliber DBs. We also tend to do well with mid-round DBs and need safety. Pierce is a massive lad, who could be molded into a mauler by Daddy Cally. Dellinger similarly is a solid guard prospect and developmental option. 

 

Sampson slips in this draft given he is a product of TN system and has to compete with an all-time great RB class. Vols Homers rejoice--this means he falls to us and replaces Julius Chestnut (side note, I hate to fade Chestnut...an all time great name). But Sampson will provide something different as an aggressive and productive physical runner in the Redzone with Pollard and Spears remaining 1A and 1B. 

 

On the back end, Dumas-Johnson is a quality LB with decent speed and production, a steal this late, and Mac McWilliams is a shorter armed overly productive DB that is exactly the kind of guy we hit on late. Also...Mac McWilliams, with a a name like that how can you miss?

 

This is an example of the draft I am expecting. Glaring needs we cannot meet with a high end pick, so we will have to be selective. Also, there is a need we out right did not address here in WR. But I am not sold on this draft class in the 4th and later, and would rather get talent over need. 

Good choices, although as you also comment we miss the extra Round 2 and/or 3 picks from a trade-down. It has to go like this if they deem Cam Ward worthy. Kind of hope it does because we need to put the QB search  behind us.

[charleytolar]

Trade with Giants and small trade with 9ers

 

3. Travis Hunter CB Colorado

34. Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina

38. Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

65. Jonah Savaiinaea OT Arizona

100. Shemar Turner DT Texas A&M

103. David Walker EDGE Central Arkansas

120. Howard Cross III DT Notre Dame

141. Sebastian Castro S Iowa

167. Trevor Etienne RB Georgia

178. J.J. Pegues DT Ole Miss

188. Marcus Tate OG Clemson

 

2026 NYG 2nd

2026 NE 3rd

2026 SF 5th

[charleytolar]

Trade with Cleveland

 

2. Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State

33. Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina

35. Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Boston College

67. Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

94. Gunnar Helm TE Texas

103. Kyren Lacy WR LSU

120. Pat Bryant WR Illinois

141. Howard Cross III DT Notre Dame

167. Miles Frazier OG LSU

178. Teddye Buchanan LB California

188. Hunter Wohler S Wisconsin

 

2026 CLE 2nd

[Grizz]

4 hours ago, charleytolar said:

Trade with Cleveland

 

2. Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State

33. Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina

35. Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Boston College

67. Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss

94. Gunnar Helm TE Texas

103. Kyren Lacy WR LSU

120. Pat Bryant WR Illinois

141. Howard Cross III DT Notre Dame

167. Miles Frazier OG LSU

178. Teddye Buchanan LB California

188. Hunter Wohler S Wisconsin

 

2026 CLE 2nd

 

Fun, in an imaginary scenario where we are somehow able to decipher that Jaxson Dart is the hidden gem. Carter and Ezeiruaku is nuts. 

 

That being said, I would like this more without Dart (who will go much higher) with an assumption the argument is we are shitting the bed completely next season. 

 

I think the one thing we cannot do is repeat the same pattern of taking a shot at the third or fourth QB in the draft. This hasn't worked, and we have not had a chance at taking the first QB available since Vince Young. 

 

When we have that shot, we need to take the guy not some other guy. 

[charleytolar]

17 hours ago, Grizz said:

 

Fun, in an imaginary scenario where we are somehow able to decipher that Jaxson Dart is the hidden gem. Carter and Ezeiruaku is nuts. 

 

That being said, I would like this more without Dart (who will go much higher) with an assumption the argument is we are shitting the bed completely next season. 

 

I think the one thing we cannot do is repeat the same pattern of taking a shot at the third or fourth QB in the draft. This hasn't worked, and we have not had a chance at taking the first QB available since Vince Young. 

 

When we have that shot, we need to take the guy not some other guy. 

Didn't have to decipher anything. The machine left Dart for us at pick #67; normally I take him before then but I chose another focus and there he was for the taking still.

 

The problem from where we sit is that we don't know how the Titans rank these QBs. There's kind of a hunched consensus put together by the so-called experts and that doesn't even count the ones back here!

 

I'm feeling it will be Cam Ward since we are completely left out of the conversation in the QB topics on the Free Agent Frenzy by the networks with Insiders better connected than any of us. If we have Cam or Shedeur rated high enough, we have to take that shot because you don't often get into the rarified air-- hopefully!

[Grizz]

13 hours ago, charleytolar said:

Didn't have to decipher anything. The machine left Dart for us at pick #67; normally I take him before then but I chose another focus and there he was for the taking still.

 

The problem from where we sit is that we don't know how the Titans rank these QBs. There's kind of a hunched consensus put together by the so-called experts and that doesn't even count the ones back here!

 

I'm feeling it will be Cam Ward since we are completely left out of the conversation in the QB topics on the Free Agent Frenzy by the networks with Insiders better connected than any of us. If we have Cam or Shedeur rated high enough, we have to take that shot because you don't often get into the rarified air-- hopefully!

 

Yeah, I know how these mocks play out in the simulator--I just like imagining or thinking through the real world logic that would justify such a move. I suppose it is theoretically possible the team falls in love with Dart, and that's the kind of thing that's at least fun to glance at in a mock like this one although I do think it is the longest of long shots. 

 

And it's true we don't know a lot about the nuanced grades of these players but I do think we know enough to know Cam is QB 1 by a wide margin.