ESPN's Mel Kiper Talks Titans, NFL Draft Options

Jan 19, 2018 at 01:32 AM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NFL Draft is still over three months away.

But ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is already making projections in his initial mock draft.

On Thursday, I hopped on an ESPN conference call with Kiper, and fired a question his way just a few hours after he released his first installment of his first-round projections.

Kiper gave the Titans, scheduled to pick 25th overall, Boston College linebacker/defensive end Harold Landry.

But he also threw in a couple of "curveball-type picks" when talking Titans.

Here's what Kiper said on the conference call:

"Well, I think if a guard is there at that point – and there's a couple of guys I think could be like wild card, curveball-type picks," Kiper said of the Titans at pick No. 25. "Austin Corbett, a center/guard out of Nevada, and Will Hernandez, a guard out of UTEP – both those kids will be at the Senior Bowl this week coming up.

"But I went with the pass rusher in Harold Landry. Harold Landry of Boston College didn't have the kind of year expected, a little nicked up here and there. But overall, two years ago showed great pass-rush ability. (Derrick) Morgan and (Brian) Orakpo are not 23, 24 years of age any more – they are getting up there in age. They combined for 14.5 sacks, but I think when you look at Erik Walden – he is getting up there in age (too). They have three guys that are getting up there in age, and (Kevin) Dodd hasn't developed the way they had hoped.

"So while (the Titans) were tied for fifth in total sacks, it was kind of distributed over a lot of people. The most sacks they had was 7.5 by Morgan, and that's it. So they are going to have somewhat of a drop off, you would think, as they keep getting older.

"So I went with a young pass rusher in Harold Landry from Boston College."

And he's what Kiper said on espn.com:

"Tennessee needs a young pass-rusher. Veterans Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan will both be free agents in 2019, and 2016 second-round pick Kevin Dodd has only one career sack in limited action. I thought Landry had a chance to be a top-10 pick after he had 16.5 sacks last season, but he had a down 2017 season and missed five games because of an ankle injury. He's talented, but he needs to show he's fully healthy and explosive. The Titans will have a new head coach and could have a different scheme if they move away from Dick LeBeau's 3-4".

The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas.

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Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, presents Alabama's Rashaan Evans with his Tennessee Titans jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans is introduced by Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson, left, head coach Mike Vrabel, right, at a news conference Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, center, speaks at a news conference as general manager Jon Robinson, left, and head coach Mike Vrabel listen Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, left, laughs with Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel at a news conference Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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FILE - In this Friday, April 27, 2018 file photo, Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans speaks at a news conference in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Tennessee Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. The Titans have agreed to terms on a deal with their first-round draft pick LB Rashaan Evans, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, right, speaks at a news conference as Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson listens Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans poses with his jersey on stage after being selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama's Rashaan Evans poses with his Tennessee Titans jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans on stage after he is selected by the Tennessee Titans during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts via AP)

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans on stage after he is selected by the Tennessee Titans during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts via AP)

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Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, greets Alabama's Rashaan Evans after he was selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans walks on stage after being selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans in the green room during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans in the green room during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Commissioner Roger Goodell presents Alabama's Rashaan Evans with his Tennessee Titans team jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip

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