The Tennessee Titans traded away their fifth and sixth round picks to move up in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft to select Arizona Wildcats CB Dane Cruikshank. Excellent. The Titans needed depth at safety, and so they got it. He’s going to come in, compete, maybe get some snaps on special teams, and that’s it. He’s just a fifth round pick, after all. Moving right along, right? RIGHT?!?! WRONG.
If you actually do your homework, you’ll find this Cruikshank kid is a bona fide stud.
He visited with the Titans prior to the draft, so I knew he was a guy on their radar. But, honestly, just thought it was due diligence. Everyone thought he’d be gone rather early in the draft, and I figured the Titans would spend their first two on a linebacker and pass rusher (which turned out to be true so quick shout out to me *pats himself on the back*). So, I didn’t figure there was much of a chance of him actually landing in Nashville.
But, there’s no denying Jon Robinson as a man who gets what he wants anymore. Not after that 2018 draft. So, credit to him – he made the moves to get the missing pieces this defense needed. And, just because Cruikshank was selected in the fifth round, doesn’t mean he’s a “fifth rounder.”
I’m a transparent guy – I’ll be honest with you guys. I didn’t do much homework on the guy, considering I didn’t see the pick happening. But, in hindsight, that was incredibly dumb given the weight a pre-draft visit with the Titans carries with J-Rob. I’ll own that one *pats chest as if to say “my bad”*
But, the guy has credentials. He tallied interceptions against first round picks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, and a once-Heisman contender in Washington’s Jake Browning. People make a lot of jokes about Pac-12 football in these parts, but make no mistake, it’s quality competition with some stellar quarterback play.
His closing speed is also excellent, and when he gets one-on-one with his man, he has an ability to make a play or prevent a play from happening for the opposing offense. He’s a hard, aggressive hitter and is an outright weapon blitzing from the defensive backfield.
But, I think it’s his work ethic and team-first attitude that makes him such a great fit in the culture that Robinson and new head coach Mike Vrabel are creating here in Nashville. Cruikshank told Titans Online’s Jim Wyatt:
“Whatever they need me to play – I mean if it’s safety, if it’s corner, nickel – I am coming in there to do my job,” Cruikshank said. “Whatever they ask me to do, that’s what I am coming in there to do.
“… This is my professional job now, so this is something I am going to invest a lot of time doing. Whether it is picking my coach’s brain or one of the veteran’s brains in the room, I am looking forward to (getting better).”
This guy’s here to win.
It seems like Titans fans are expecting him to be the sort of heir apparent to Johnathan Cyprien, and that may prove true in the future. But, I think he sees plenty of action as a rookie and has the potential to become a regular rotational player at both the safety and nickel positions. Given his propensity to hit quarterbacks, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him get some action on blitz packages. This kid’s going to be a Swiss Army Knife for this defense.
Welcome to Nashville, Mr. Cruikshank. Now, Titan UP!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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