Tennessee Titans select CB Alterraun Verner with newly acquired 4th rounder

Written by Drexel Perry on .

With the pick they just acquired from Seattle in exchange for LenDale White, the Tennessee Titans added some depth at the CB position by selecting CB Alterraun Verner of UCLA.

Verner's described as being a scrappy, undersized corner who makes up for his lack of size with a high level of toughness. He's a guy who will probably make an impact initially on special teams but with his competitive nature, maybe he can emerge as a contributor down the road.

Selecting Verner continues this year's draft trend of the Titans picking up players who produced on the college level at big-time programs.

Any thoughts on this selection? Feel free to comment below.

 

LenDale White traded to Seattle

Written by Drexel Perry on .

In breaking news, the Tennessee Titans have acquired an additional 4th round pick (selection #104) in exchange for the running back formerly known as Smash, LenDale White.

White was made expendable due to the emergence of all-world RB Chris Johnson.

With White's departure, expect CJ to continue to carry the load, with Javon Ringer being the guy behind him. Also, don't be surprised to see the Titans draft a RB to replace White on the depth chart at some point today.

Titans select LB Rennie Curran with 3rd round compensatory pick

Written by Tom Gower on .

With the 97th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the compensatory pick obtained for Albert Haynesworth, the Titans added to their linebacker depth by taking former Georgia LB Rennie Curran.

Curran played weakside linebacker for the Bulldogs and led the team in tackles in both 2008 and 2009 from that position.  He was also named to Sporting News's Midseason All-American Team and first-team All-SEC in 2009.

He declared for the draft after his junior season.  The primary knock on him is he's a short at only 5'10 1/2", but he was an outstanding playmaker and the first Georgia player in over a decade to have consecutive 100+ tackle seasons.  If that sort of profile sounds a little familiar, it's because it's an excellent match for Stephen Tulloch as a 4th round draft pick out of NC State.

If you're looking for Curran's future, he'll be the backup MLB and pencil him into the starting spot in the middle after Tulloch leaves as a free agent after the 2010 season.

The Titans select WR Damian Williams in the third round

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

The Titans surprise everyone with the selection of Southern Cal WR Damian Williams with their regular third round pick, #77 overall. 
 
Williams led the Trojans in receiving for two years and stood out at USC as a punt returner, which may be the reason the Titans selected him. Williams had two punt return TDs and a 14.2 yard punt return average last season.
 
Tennessee's receiver corps is already in decent shape with last year's first-round pick, Kenny Britt, and veterans Justin Gage and Nate Washington.
 
The scouting reports I've read say Williams is a great route runner. He excels at getting open and gaining separation although he doesn't have the top speed to maintain it. Good hands. Not as physical as you'd like, has trouble getting off the line. Injuries may be a concern.
 

Which corner will the Titans draft in the third round?

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

 
One position of need was filled in the first round with the Titans' selection of DE Derrick Morgan. Cornerback, the Titans' other primary need, is expected to be addressed in the third round tonight. Unless the Titans are able to trade up into the second round, which will be difficult, expect to wait until later in the evening to find out which corner will join Morgan in the Titans' draft class of 2010. Tennessee has the 77th pick and the Fat Albert compensatory 97th pick.
 
CBs Joe Haden, Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty, Kyle Wilson and Patrick Robinson all heard their names called in the first round but plenty of good corners are still available. Following are thumbnails of some of those corners, including a few who have return skills. 

First round picks of the Titans' 2010 opponents

Written by Tom Gower on .

Round 1 of the 2010 NFL draft is in the books.  The Titans took Derrick Morgan with the 16th overall pick, but I thought I'd also share my thoughts on the 1st round picks of the Titans' 2010 opponents, starting with the divisional foes.

Jacksonville Jaguars, Cal DT Tyson Alualu, 10th overall:  Probably the biggest surprise pick of the night, as Alualu was considered at highest a borderline 1st/2nd round pick and a tweener between the 3-4 he played in in college and the 4-3 the Jaguars have (sensibly) returned to as their base defense.  He'll probably be the penetrating under tackle role, akin to what Jason Jones was doing this year before he got hurt.  If Alualu works out as expected, the Titans interior offensive linemen will have their hands full over the next half decade or more dealing with him and massive run stopper Terrance Knighton, who had a fine rookie season.  This pick also makes DT mainstay John Henderson pretty expendable, and he could be dealt as soon as tomorrow during the 2nd or 3rd round.

Houston Texans, Alabama CB Kareem Jackson, 20th overall: Another mini-surprise pick, as the Texans bypassed Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty to take Jackson.  It fit a clear need, as the Texans were thin at corner after losing Dunta Robinson and Glover Quin's future may be instead at free safety.  Jackson's considered excellent in press coverage and very good in zone coverage, so he sounds more like a cover-2-type corner.  He ran well at the combine, but that apparently didn't match the tape and he's considered more quick than fast.  I'd guess Houston may be playing more zone this year.

Indianapolis Colts, TCU DE Jerry Hughes, 31st overall: The Colts replace the DE depth they lost when Raheem Brock left as a free agent.  Like Alualu, Hughes was considered a 3-4 OLB/4-3 DE tweener, but the Colts are a team that won't care about his lack of size as neither Freeney nor Mathis is very big.  With Brock gone and Freeney and Mathis getting older and injured this past season, Hughes definitely fits a need and with great initial quickness and lack of size fits right in.  For more, see the prospect profile Andrew did.

The Tennessee Titans select DE Derrick Morgan with first-round pick

Written by Drexel Perry on .

Welcome to Nashville, Derrick Morgan.

With their first-round selection, the Tennessee Titans filled their need at the DE position by picking up perhaps the draft's most well-rounded pass rusher.

While he may not possess the "upside" of Jason Pierre-Paul, Morgan more than makes up for it with his solid combination of size, athleticism and the ability to play the run.