NASHVILLE, Tenn. — NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock believes Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil makes a lot of sense for the Titans with the first overall pick.
Something else that makes sense to Mayock: Trading out of the No.1 spot for more picks.
And Mayock believes that's a possibility for the Titans because of the recent emergence of the quarterbacks in the NFL Draft. He mentioned North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and California's Jared Goff during a conference call on Tuesday.
Mayock said the QB talk has "heated up." The quarterback-needy Browns are scheduled to pick second overall.
"I think with all the good news at the quarterback position, and when I say good news, I mean all of a sudden people are buying into Carson Wentz,'' Mayock said. "Goff might go No.2. If Goff goes 2 and somebody likes him, would they jump up to 1? So I think there is a little bit more buzz on those top two quarterbacks."
The Titans have the first overall pick after selecting quarterback Marcus Mariota second overall in last year's draft.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. said in a conference call on Monday he thinks the Titans should pick Tunsil in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Mayock said he thinks Tunsil is a good fit as well if the Titans stay at No.1.
Ohio State defensive lineman Joey Bosa has been a popular pick for the Titans in mock drafts, along with Tunsil. Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Bucker have also been mentioned more of late.
In 28 career games as the Rebels' left tackle, Tunsil (6-5, 305) was responsible for only two sacks allowed. Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley is regarded as the second best tackle in the NFL Draft.
"I think (Tunsil) very much is a fit for the Titans especially because you get better at two positions – Tunsil would be your left tackle and you kick Taylor Lewan over to right tackle and I think you have to do everything you can to support the quarterback you chose last year, Mariota,'' Mayock said.
"To me, I think they'd love to move down a couple of spots and if Tunsil wasn't there, I don't think that the difference between and Ronnie Stanley is all that great. So if they were able to move down 4, 5 or 6 slots and still get a tackle, I think the same process would hold. Beyond that, does Joey Bosa make sense? Sure. Does DeForest Buckner make some sense? Sure he does. Does Jalen Ramsey? Yeah. But I really believe you have to protect the quarterback since he is going to be your franchise guy."
