Three QB prospects the Titans have clear interest in
With the NFL Combine officially underway in Indianapolis, the Tennessee Titans have already made headlines after reportedly meeting with multiple quarterbacks on Wednesday. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel made the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium to take in workouts and conduct meetings with some of the Titans’ potential targets in the […]
With the NFL Combine officially underway in Indianapolis, the Tennessee Titans have already made headlines after reportedly meeting with multiple quarterbacks on Wednesday. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel made the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium to take in workouts and conduct meetings with some of the Titans’ potential targets in the 2022 NFL Draft Class.
After QB Ryan Tannehill tossed three interceptions in the AFC Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, offseason discussions have centered around the quarterback position. With Tannehill under contract through 2023, the Titans are not making plans to find a new starter for the 2022 season. However, with just two years left on his deal, Titans brass appears to have begun preparation for life after Tannehill.
ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport reported that the Titans have already held formal meetings with QB Sam Howell out of North Carolina as well as Nevada’s Carson Strong. The team is also reported to have a meeting scheduled with Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder.
All three of these quarterbacks are projected to be in the second tier of signal callers to hear their names called in the draft. The Titans are slotted with the 26th overall pick in the first round, but do not have a second-round pick after trading it to the Atlanta Falcons as part of the Julio Jones deal last offseason.
“There’s some in certain drafts that are way out of our reach because they’re going in the top three or four picks and we pick in the back of the first round,” said Robinson on drafting a quarterback. “We are trying to find those guys that may be within striking distance that may not come in and unseat, but we see a future for.”
Ridder makes for an interesting prospect for the Titans. When asked who he likens his game to, he answered with a dual threat that includes Ryan Tannehill and Deshaun Watson. “I feel like those two guys, if you put them together, you kind of get a little bit of me,” said Ridder. If the Titans plan on selecting Ridder, the team will likely be forced to trade up into the second round to grab him.
Howell is another QB who, like Tannehill, can not only make the tight-window throws, but is also able to utilize his legs in critical situations. Howell started for three seasons at UNC where he threw 92 touchdowns to just 23 interceptions. He also ran for 17 more scores, showing the versatility that is almost required in today’s NFL.
Like Ridder, the Titans were able to observe Strong in the Senior Bowl. Prior to his senior season at Nevada, Strong admitted to having surgery on a knee injury that he picked up in high school. While injury concerns may dampen his draft stock, he was still able to finish his senior season at Nevada with 36 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Although Strong likely has the best arm of the three, his mobility is a question.
“I can play football,” Strong declared to the media at the NFL Combine. “My knee is totally fine – it’s not going to fall off.”
Robinson and the Titans front office have made a habit out of drafting players with injury history, such as Jeffery Simmons and Caleb Farley. If Strong slips into the third round, he might just be a risk worth taking for Tennessee.
Featured image via Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
