8. QB Jake Locker C-

Like the Newton pick, at least they’re attempting to find a franchise quarterback. This isn’t the year to do so, in my opinion, but Locker has upside so I can’t completely hate this pick as much as I would other reaches. I had Gabbert rated higher, but not much. I’m obviously not in love with the pick, however, by any stretch of the imagination.

39. OLB Akeem Ayers A-

Ayers fills a big need for them at outside linebacker as they could really use an upgrade at all three linebacker spots (provided they can’t resign stud middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch). He also is a great value as I had a top 15-20 pick grade on him. However, the minus sign is there rather than a flat A because I think Ayers fits a 3-4 scheme much better than a 4-3. This is still a very good pick.

77. DT Jurrell Casey A-

This is a minor reach, but the defensive tackles were getting slim and they really needed one inside next to Jason Jones.

109. OLB Colin McCarthy A-

Another linebacker and another solid value. McCarthy can play outside or inside and he’s also a high character kid, a team leader, and a strong special teamer. They could have done a few things here I would have liked more. They really need interior offensive line help, but this is still a very solid pick.

130. RB Jamie Harper D

This one I don’t get. Chris Johnson is a fantastic running back and backup Javon Ringer, on the few occasions he has to do something, gets the job done. Instead of adding another running back, why not fix that terrible interior blocking. They have major holes at guard and center and the mid rounds are a great place to add players at those positions because so many starters at guard and center in the NFL were drafted in the mid rounds.

142. DE Karl Klug B-

Jason Babin likely won’t be back. The Titans don’t like giving long term deals to free agents over the age of 30 and Babin has only one year of elite production to his name. Also, I don’t know why he’d want to come back and be a part of this rebuilding project at his age. Klug helps fill his void and fits their theme of adding size upfront, but he’s a minor reach.

175. G Byron Stingily C-

They’re saying Stingily could play guard, which would help their interior line problems, but I have some doubts about his ability to play there. I think he’s more natural as a pass blocker on the exterior and the 6^th round was too early for him anyway.

212. DT Zach Clayton C

They didn’t really need to get two tackles out of this draft and I didn’t have Clayton in my top 300 so this is also a reach.

251. S Tommie Campbell B-

Campbell would be a nice story if he were to make the team, given that he was kicked out of 2 schools, forced to play Division II football, had to take a job as a janitor, and eventually got drafted, but I have some doubts about his ability to stick in the national football league. He would fill a need though.

Overall:

I liked what they did with their 2^nd-4^th picks so that really helps their grade. I think they got at least 2 starters and a strong special teamer out of that bunch, but Jake Locker at 8 was a flat out reach. He’s not worth that spot. He’s a project and will probably bust. I admire their courage with that pick, but I think they flat out made the wrong pick. They also didn’t address the interior line like I would have liked them to. I have questions about Stingily at guard and I think he was a reach anyway. Combine their first round pick with the fact that they didn’t address a major need, and this couldn’t possibly be a highly graded draft in my book, despite the quality they got in the early to mid rounds.

Grade: B-