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ESPN's Todd McShay Discusses Options for the Titans at No.19 in NFL Draft, and Considers QB Marcus Mariota in Process

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NASHVILLE – When ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay went on the clock at No.19 with the Titans, he thought of quarterback Marcus Mariota, and the team's running game.

And he gave them N.C. State center Garrett Bradbury in his most recent mock draft, which was released on Wednesday morning.

On a conference call today, Titans Online asked McShay about his thought process, and what else could be in play for the Titans in the first round of the NFL Draft next month in Nashville.

"They were a tough one," McShay said of the Titans. "Bradbury, to me, is clearly the best interior offensive lineman in this class. And you look at it, I just think if you can get a player of his quality there, and know that you have a plug-and-play starter for the next eight, nine, 10 years, you have to feel pretty good about it.

"Plus, the fact you want to protect your quarterback. And you have to be able to continue to run the football, and you have to continue to try and upgrade that offensive line in order to keep Marcus upright and take away from the amount of hits that he's taken."

McShay

McShay said he considered a tight end for the Titans at No. 19, as well as wide receiver.

"Delanie Walker is 34 and was injured last season," McShay said. "But he can still play. (Iowa's) T.J. Hockenson was gone at that point (No. 12 to Green Bay), but (Iowa tight end) Noah Fant would be a possibility.

"Wide receiver would be another possibility. I had (Ole Miss receiver) D.K. Metcalf coming off the board earlier (No. 9 to Buffalo), and same with Marquise Brown from Oklahoma (No.15 to Redskins), so they were gone (before the Titans picked) as well."

And that's why McShay ended up going with Bradbury for the Titans.

Here's what McShay said about the Titans in his Mock Draft 3.0 on espn.com:

19. Tennessee Titans

Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State

I think Bradbury is the best, most NFL-ready interior offensive lineman in the class. Ben Jones has played guard before, so the Titans could move him over and slide Bradbury in at center to drastically improve this unit. He has some athleticism and power in the middle.

As a senior, the 6-foot-3, 306-pound Bradbury was the full-time starter won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center and received first-team All-ACC and Associated Press All-American honors.

Here's what else McShay said on today's conference call:

"When I look at the Titans, and I wrote it in the blurb, Ben Jones is obviously playing at a pretty high level at center but he has played at guard, and started at guard as well, so they could move him over. And if it wasn't Bradbury I think wide receiver would be a possibility. They need another edge rusher. Offensive guard, any of the guys in the first round would make some kind of sense, but I just think (Bradbury) fits what they want to do. And tight end as I mentioned as well."

McShay had the Titans taking Hockenson at No. 19 on his Mock Draft 2.0.

In McShay's Mock Draft 3.0, he has the Cardinals taking Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No.1 pick, and the 49ers taking Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa with the No.2 pick. McShay has Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams going No.3 to the Jets.

TitansOnline.com looks back at some of the team's #1 draft picks over the years. (AP Photos)

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