NASHVILLE – Jordan Reid thinks all the talk about Rueben Bain's short arms has been overblown.
In fact, the ESPN draft analyst thinks the Miami edge rusher is a perfect fit for the Titans.
"The short arms don't really bother me, just because of how he wins," Reid said of Bain on a conference call. "He's a power-based rusher, it's not like he is a rusher who is using a full repertoire of moves who doesn't have a lot of power – then you would really be worried about the short arms. But he is not move based, he has that in his repertoire, but he's a power-based defensive end as well.
"So, I like Bain a lot. He brings a different type of identity to the table as well. He is one of my favorites."
In a recent mock draft, Reid gave Bain to the Titans with the fourth overall pick on the NFL Draft, after quarterback Fernando Mendoza, edge Arvell Reese and Edge David Bailey went 1-3.
Reid then gave the Titans Washington receiver Denzel Boston in the second round, at pick No. 35.
"I think Robert Saleh is going to fall in love with Bain just because he is his type – 6-2, 260-265 pounds," Reid said. "He likes those big, powerful base rushers. He has so many different things you can do with him in his repertoire. You can play him off the edge, you can slide him inside in those subpackages as well. I think he can get really creative with him. And, just imagine him and Jeffery Simmons on one side – good luck with that, trying to defend both of those guys. I think it's just the natural fit for them in that Saleh scheme that he wants to incorporate. I think they're going to like Bain quite a bit."
Reid said he thinks teams could try and trade into the back of the first round, or into the top of the second round, to draft a receiver.
Along with Boston, Reid mentioned Indiana receiver Omar Cooper, Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion and Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell as players who could be intriguing for teams, starting in the back of the first round.
A 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, Boston caught 125 passes for 1,715 yards with 20 touchdowns in his past two seasons at Washington.
"With Boston, it's a value pick for (the Titans) right there," Reid said. "And this is a great class with those big X boundary receivers, which is what Tennessee really needs. And I know they took two guys last year (in Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor), but I know Boston gives them a little bit different of a skill set than what both those guys bring to the table."
And while Reid thinks the Titans need defense, he suspects they'll be temped by another player early in the first round.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has been a popular pick for the Titans in recent mock drafts, and Reid understands why.
"I think it could start at 4 with Tennessee, honestly," Reid said when asked how early in the draft teams might think about picking Love. "I know they have (Tyjae) Spears and (Tony) Pollard in the backfield. But I've always been taught good players shouldn't take you away from taking great ones. And I believe Jeremiah Love is the best player in this year's draft class.
"But with Robert Saleh, and him being so defensive-minded, and the shape their defense is in right now, I think it's going to be a little bit too hard to pass up on one of those edge rushers just because they have a huge need. I know they just (traded for) Jermaine Johnson, but they still have a huge need off the edge."
