Tennessee Titans: The Pros and Cons of Drafting an Edge Rusher in Round One
There is certainly potential for the Tennessee Titans to select an edge rusher with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That decision would make sense, but there are also some fair arguments against the idea. PROS They lack a top-end pass rusher. No one currently on the Titans' roster has ever managed a […]
There is certainly potential for the Tennessee Titans to select an edge rusher with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
That decision would make sense, but there are also some fair arguments against the idea.
PROS
They lack a top-end pass rusher.
No one currently on the Titans' roster has ever managed a 10-sack season in the NFL except for Vic Beasley, who hasn't done it since 2016.
And, though Harold Landry showed some flashes of brilliance in 2019, his second season, he was far from a consistent producer and often failed to disrupt opposing offenses.
For the Titans to have an improved pass rush in 2020, they need someone who can make a consistent impact.
They may get that in one of their free agency additions, but adding an edge rusher in the first round of the draft would give them much better odds to find what they're looking for.
They need someone to help them beat Patrick Mahomes.
If the Titans want to take the next step from the 2019 season and earn a Super Bowl appearance, they'll almost certainly, again, have to go through the Kansas City Chiefs and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
One of the reasons the Titans weren't able to take down Mahomes in January's AFC Championship was their lack of a pass rush. He had plenty of time to throw every time he dropped back, which allowed him to carve up the Titans defense.
Adding a quality edge pass rusher in the first round would certainly give the Titans a better chance of taking down Mahomes, should they again meet in the 2020 postseason.
CONS
This isn't a great edge rusher class.
Over the last few years, the NFL Draft has featured very talented groups of edge rusher prospects.
The 2020 draft, unfortunately for teams looking to add some juice to get after the quarterback, is just not as ripe.
Outside of Ohio State's Chase Young, who figures to be drafted No. 2 overall, there aren't any pass rushers in this year's class that don't have a major question mark of some kind.
Picking a pass rusher in the late first-round would be a gamble.
The Titans already have good depth at that position.
While the Titans don't have any top-end edge rushers, they do have a lot of depth at the position.
Landry, Beasley, Kamalei Correa, Derick Roberson, D'Andre Walker and Reggie Gilbert make up a group for the Titans that is both deep and very diverse in terms of strengths.
Especially if the Titans dip back into the free-agent pool for another edge rusher, adding one in the first round of the draft could create a "too many cooks in the kitchen" situation at the position.
They still may sign Jadeveon Clowney
Based on some quotes from Titans GM Jon Robinson and a report from Paul Kuharsky, it seems that the Titans are very much in play for free agent outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney.
If they're able to get a deal done with the former Texans and Seahawks player, that would probably be their best bet at the edge rush position.
He is better than everyone in this draft class aside from Young, and signing him would allow the Titans to use their first-round pick on another position.
MORE: Why the Titan May Already Have Enough at Edge Rusher
Cover image: Chuck Cook & Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today
