The 2020 NFL Draft takes place April 23-25 this year, emanating LIVE from everywhere ’cause it’s basically going to be one big Zoom meeting. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 29th overall selection. Over the next few weeks, your boy “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley will be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to or who make sense for the Titans. Today, we’re lookin’ at former Houston lineman Josh Jones.
If you see a former All-Pro who’s coming off a pretty good season at right tackle walk in free agency, sure – you’d be inclined to think that the Titans need to go after a new starting right tackle right away. I think that’s the basis for why a lot of writers seem to be mocking tackles to the Titans in the first round.
And, don’t get me wrong – tackle is a need. I just don’t see it as dire a need the same way some of the national guys do. The Titans are in an excellent position to draft the best player available and consider value. At #29, they’re going to miss out on the elite tackles in this draft. But, Josh Jones is a guy that could realistically be there when the Titans are on the clock at the end of the first round.
Jones is a raw prospect, and a lack of polish is what’s keeping him out of the top-10 caliber offensive tackles in this draft. Thankfully, they have these things in the NFL that can help prospects learn proper technique. They’re called ‘coaches.’ And, there’s an awful lot of coaches who are looking at Jones thinkin’ they got some elite level athleticism they can mold. He has some potential special traits – he gets out of his blocks quick, he can pull when called upon, he gets to the second level. This guy is a lump of clay. In the right situation, he could be a stud.
Taking a player like Jones would actually offer up an ideal fit for the guy. He wouldn’t be needed to start right away, and should get plenty of time to develop because of it. The Titans could use him right away, but carefully craft a game plan to put him in situations to succeed.
This is a really good tackle draft. It’s possible Jones goes in the early 20s, but if he slides to #29, the Titans could certainly do a lot worse.
Further Reading: Meet Josh Jones, Houston’s battle-tested OT prospect.
2020 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
C.J. Henderson
Yetur Gross-Matos
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, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
