Pick # 8: Tennessee Titans

At pick #8 sits the Tennessee Titans, a team that seemed to have a ton of promise at the beginning of the year, with the consensus best running back in the game and a nasty defense, but surprise surprise, quarterback issues doomed them. These weren’t your run of the mill QB issues either. Vince Young went out with a bang - throwing his shoulder pads into the stands after a game against the Redskins, then getting in a heated shouting match his head coach in front of the team which resulted in him being banned from team activities for the rest of the season. Young has the tools but he has fought emotional demons his entire career that weren't apparent when the Titans drafted him with the 3rd overall pick. His flame out leaves the Titans with Kerry Collins and Rusty Smith at the position. Collins is really old - when he takes his helmet off he literally has white hair - and Rusty Smith is, well, Rusty Smith. The fact of the matter is that 7 of the teams drafting in the top 10 have quarterback issues, but there are only 2 top 10 worthy quarterbacks, so these teams are going to have to fill other needs early and address the QB situation in later rounds, or in free agency once the CBA is resolved. I think when the Titans get to the clock, they aren’t going to love their options at the QB position and will address another glaring need with the guy who could end up being the best player in this draft.

(INSERT OFFENSIVE NAME) #8 OVERALL MOCK DRAFT PICK:
NICK FAIRLEY - DT, AUBURN

Since Albert Haynesworth took his talents to the nation's capital, there has been a gaping hole along the Titans defensive line. Fairley would fill that hole in a heartbeat, and it’s this humble NFL draft blogger’s opinion that he would represent the steal of the draft at #8. In 2002, Haynesworth fell to the Titans at #15 overall and three defensive tackles were selected before them. This time around history repeats itself, and Marcell Dareus is selected before Fairley but Fairley turns out to be the better pro. In 2002, John Henderson, Ryan Sims, and Wendell Bryant were all considered "cleaner" prospects that Haynesworth and were all selected ahead of him. The knock on Haynesworth that year? He'd only really been dominant for one year at Tennessee. The knock on Fairley this year? Only year of real dominance at Auburn. The more you look at it the more the similarities start to stack up.

Anyone who watched Auburn at any point this season couldn’t help but notice Fairley and the impact he had on every game he played. While he dominated the National Championship vs Oregon, the Iron Bowl, Auburn vs. Alabama, is the more telling game of this kid’s impact. Fairley left the game in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury and was forced to go get treatment in the locker room. While he was gone, ‘Bama built a 24-0 lead and looked like they were cruising to victory. Fairley came back and immediately changed the tenor of the game - he 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble on Alabama QB Greg McElroy that halted Tide scoring threat at the AU 8-yard line late in the secord quarter and transformed the whole game. He’s a game changer, he’s a special talent, and it’s going to be a pleasure watching him molest Peyton Manning twice a year for the rest of his career.

Entire Mock Draft:

1. Carolina Panthers - Marcell Dareus
2. Denver Broncos - Patrick Peterson
3. Buffalo Bills - Cam Newton
4. Cincinnati Bengals - A.J. Green
5. Arizona Cardinals - Blaine Gabbert
6. Cleveland Browns - Julio Jones
7. San Francisco 49ers - Von Miller
8. Tennessee Titans - Nick Fairley