Tennessee Titans: The Pros and Cons of Drafting a Cornerback in Round One
There is certainly potential for the Tennessee Titans to select a cornerback 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 The team currently only has two starting cornerbacks. As things stand right now, the Titans only have two […]
There is certainly potential for the Tennessee Titans to select a cornerback 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
The team currently only has two starting cornerbacks.
As things stand right now, the Titans only have two starting-caliber cornerbacks on the roster: Adoree' Jackson and Malcolm Butler.
Those are both good players, but that presents a problem when the defense runs nickel packages or anything else that requires more than two cornerbacks.
Considering that the Titans have primarily utilized nickel packages under head coach Mike Vrabel, they need three quality cornerbacks to excel.
Having to face the trio of Butler, Jackson and a first-round draft pick would be a tough ask of opposing receivers.
They need to get cheaper at this position.
In 2019, the Titans' starters at cornerback were Butler, Jackson and Logan Ryan. Those three players' salaries totaled nearly $30 million.
Jackson's salary will spike in 2021, assuming that the team picks up his fifth-year option.
There's also a chance that the Titans re-sign Ryan, who is currently on the open market as an unrestricted free agent. That would likely cost at least $10 million per season.
As a result, the Titans could stand to add a cornerback that is both talented and cheap, something done best and easiest in the first round of the draft.
They could use some added speed/athleticism at corner.
While the Titans' corps of cornerbacks played mostly well in 2019, the one flaw that consistently got exposed was the group's lack of speed.
Outside of Jackson, who has a track background, none of the Titans' cornerbacks in 2019 were able to play quality man coverage against faster receivers.
This inability was particularly on display in the AFC Championship, when Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes had wide-open targets all day, mostly because receivers Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill were running circles around the Titans' corners.
Gaining a quick-twitch athlete at cornerback, something that would easily be possible at the end of the first round of the draft, could do wonders for the Titans' defense.
CONS
Re-signing Logan Ryan would prevent this from being a big need.
While general manager Jon Robinson said last week that "nothing is imminent" regarding the Titans striking a deal to bring Ryan back, it is still a possibility down the road.
If that were to happen, the team would no longer have a true need for a starting cornerback.
They would still need depth and youth, but the team would have the ability to adequately address those concerns later in the draft with Ryan back.
The defensive back position group is already one of the team's strengths.
Over the last couple of seasons, the Titans have boasted an especially talented and productive group of defensive backs.
Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro have been a great duo at safety, while the aforementioned starters at cornerback have also proven a tough matchup for opposing receivers.
They're also helped by the depth provided by second-year safety Amani Hooker, who is very versatile and can be used as a chess-piece all over the field.
Even without a high-caliber third option at cornerback, the Titans' defensive back group as a whole would remain far-above-average.
MORE: The Pros and Cons of the Titans Drafting a Receiver in Round One
David Butler II & Butch Dill / USA Today
