There were rumblings that the Tennessee Titans would move the number one pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but most of us didn’t expect a whole lot to come out of it.
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Rams made the shocking move to acquire the pick in a blockbuster deal. The deal was completed on Wednesday Night, but both the Rams and Titans didn’t want to ruin Kobe Bryant night:
Rams and Titans agreed to trade at 9:30 pm ET Wednesday and withheld announcement so nothing would detract from Kobe Bryant's last NBA game.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2016
Rams official on withholding trade until today: "Kobe deserved his night. There was no reason for this trade to be announced on his night.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2016
The Titans will receive the 15 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft from Los Angeles and two second-rounders that will be 43rd and 45th overall. In 2017, the Titans will also land the Rams’ first round pick next year and the team’s third rounder.
The Titans now have sole possession of six of the top 76 picks in the draft.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson had the following to say in a statement per the Titans’ official website:
“Being able to acquire six players in the top 76 this year, along with next year when you factor that into it — I am assuming five in the top three rounds — that is 11 players that we can add to this football team that should not only increase our depth, but give us good quality players at all those positions,’’ Titans general manager Jon Robinson said.
“In the end we thought it was a decision that was best for this football team. It made sense for us to do it, and that’s why we moved on it. We talked to several teams about the pick. There was interest in the pick, and in the end we thought this was the option that made the most sense for us…We think we can really bolster this roster with the picks that we now have.”
The trade happened now rather on draft day to give both teams time to plan who to pick. With the Rams leapfrogging all the way to number one, it seems very likely that they will take either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff number one now to fill their quarterback void.
The Titans selected Marcus Mariota number two overall last season, so there was no need for them to pick a quarterback. With the Rams likely going quarterback, it seems the Cleveland Browns, who parted ways with Johnny Manziel in March will pick whichever guy the Rams don’t.
Earlier this off-season, the Titans acquired running back DeMarco Murray from the Philadelphia Eagles to fill their hole at running back. Tennessee is also already strong at the tight end slot with Delanie Walker and Anthony Fasano.
Outside of Jason McCourty, there is really nothing notable on the Titans defense. While the team is trading out of the number one pick which could cost them Joey Bosa or Shaq Lawson to be their defensive future, they are in a better overall spot as a franchise now.
As for the Los Angeles Rams, the Nick Foles for Sam Bradford trade is looking like they lost it now. Foles will likely be traded after the Rams choose Goff or Wentz. Goff or Wentz will give the Rams another young offensive player to pair with Todd Gurley.
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