NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans added speed and strength during the 2012 NFL Draft. More important, general manager Ruston Webster and coach Mike Munchak said, is that they added competition at multiple positions. Webster and Munchak believe that increased competition will make everyone better as they battle for roster spots and playing time on Sundays.
Here's a recap of the Titans' draft choices:
Round 1, 20th overall: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
Wright can line up on the outside or in the slot, and scouts like the separation he can create from defenders when he moves vertically, horizontally or diagonally across the field. He led the nation last season with 19 catches of 25 yards or more, including eight of more than 40 yards. Wright is expected to add depth at receiver, a position at which Nate Washington, Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins set career highs last season after the Titans lost Kenny Britt to a knee injury in Week 3.
College stats: Set Baylor all-time records with 302 receptions for 4,004 yards and 30 touchdowns; added 75 rush attempts for 425 yards and two touchdowns and finished with 4,479 all-purpose career yards (also a school record). He totaled 108 receptions for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Wright on comparisons between him and Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith:
"I guess they feel we are similar receivers, smaller receivers. I think that is why they compare us, and Steve Smith is ferocious going across the middle and making big grabs. I like playing big. I'm not a big receiver, but I like playing big."
Munchak on if Wright makes the Titans' receivers the best group in several years:
"We hope so. We just want to be productive. We want to score points. We know that is what it comes down to in this league, putting more points on the board. We feel we will be able to dictate more and kind of do what we want to do. There may be games where we can play three-wide more and maybe some four-wides more, maybe some two tight ends the whole game. I think it just gives you more options that you can go into each game and decide what is the best personnel to put on the field to win that particular Sunday. Having someone like Kendall allows us to do more things than maybe we have done in the past."
Webster on other teams who picked in front of and behind Tennessee being interested in Wright:
"Truthfully, I was sweating it. Mike (Munchak) knows I was a little nervous at the time. We did feel real fortunate. You know, you hear those things the day after. You don't know them for sure while the draft is going on. It actually always makes you feel good about your pick when you hear something like that. Yeah, we were very fortunate, and I was very nervous."
