Titans draft thoughts.

Photo taken from NFLsoup.com.

Hey in case you didn't know, the NFL Draft is tomorrow! With the league currently (though not technically anymore) in a lockout, this year's draft has been one of the least anticipated in history. The event is a huge one for a Titans fan, as we'll find out (more than likely) who our next franchise quarterback will be within the first two rounds.

The 2010 draft was very kind to Tennessee as they found a starter in the middle rounds and a Pro Bowler in Round 7. Here's just a quick recap of how their selections fared in their rookie campaigns.

[1st round, 16th overall] Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks

Morgan was well on his way to proving his worth as the 16th overall selection. However, a torn ACL shut down his rookie season and left the Titans in a tough predictament by having to rotate players like Jacob Ford and William Hayes at defensive end. Morgan's rehab is reportedly going well and he should find himself back on the field by the start of the season.

[3rd round, 77th overall] Damian Williams, WR, USC - 16 catches, 219 yards

This is a pick I loved coming into the season and still do. Stats don't tell the story how impressive Williams was last year. He was buried on the bench for most of the season because of former coach (I love saying that) Jeff Fisher's love affair with Justin Gage, but when he did deservingly get into the game, he was a threat in the slot. Williams should have a big role in the Titans offense for years to come.

[3rd round, 97th overall] Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia - 8 tackles

Another pick I loved coming into the season, but I haven't seen anything yet to make me love it even more. His sample size came on the way of special teams in nine games, but he did good in that role. With the potential departure of Stephen Tulloch, look for Curran to get more playing time in 2011.

[4th round, 104th overall] Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA - 101 tackles, 3 INT

An absolute steal. While teams like the Texans and the Jets were picking corners not named Joe Haden and Devin McCourty in the first round, the Titans quietly took this mathematics major in the fourth round. For part of the season, Verner was ranked as one of the top corners in the entire league by Pro Football Focus and although his play slipped slightly near the end of 2010, he still had an incredible year nonetheless. I'm thrilled to have this guy on the Titans and can't wait for him to develop even more in Jerry Gray's defensive scheme.

[5th round, 148th overall] Robert Johnson, S, Utah - N/A

The biggest news Johnson made all season was posing as Randy Moss during Moss's first practice in Tennessee. With an aging Chris Hope, Johnson should get some playing time at strong safety in 2011.

[6th round, 176th overall] Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic - 25.0 rtg., 200 yards, 4 INT

I had a love/hate relationship with this pick at first. I loved it because of Smith's first name, but hated it with Dan LeFevour still on the board. That being said, I still am okay with this selection. Ignoring the horrible showing against Houston, Smith showed an incredible work ethic to get better while flashing some sorts of skill in his two appearances. He never should have saw the field last season and although he'll possibly never be a consistent starting quarterback in his career, I can promise he'll be much better than what he showed against Houston.

[6th round, 207th overall] Myron Rolle, S, Florida State - N/A

Loved this pick too but maybe moreso for the story than the actual ability of Rolle. He was on the practice squad all season and might see some time at safety next year, but I'm not sure of that. One thing he needs to do however is knock some sense into Kenny Britt.

[7th round, 222nd overall] Marc Mariani, WR/KR, Montana - 60 KR, 1530 yards, 1 TD, 27 PR, 329 yards, 1 TD

I think Jeff Fisher and I were the only ones who liked this selection on draft day. I saw enough of Mariani on highlight videos to become a fan of his and hoped we would snag him late to shore up a shaky at best returning game. He did just that, being the only player last season to score on a kick and punt return, while making the Pro Bowl. He showed me a lot during the pre-season as a receiver too and I think will see time on offense next season.

[7th round, 241th overall] David Howard, DT, Brown - N/A

I thought he was still on the Titans practice squad but after a quick Google search, I found out he was waived and later picked up by the Oakland Raiders.

I'd check the 2010 NFL Draft as a success for the Titans, especially with their later selections of Verner and Mariani. This year's draft is more important however because with the departure of Vince Young and Jeff Fisher, new head coach Mike Munchak needs to find a franchise quarterback along with other players who will fit his new system.

There should be plenty of players to choose from with the eighth overall pick. Quarterbacks like Jake Locker and Andy Dalton will certainly be there but most teams have them graded as mid-first round selections at best. Cornerback Prince Amukamara of Nebraska should be there as well and maybe end North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn. But at #8, I want and believe the Titans will take Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

Fairley has the potential to be one of the more dominant defensive tackles in the league someday. He can disrupt the run, gets to the quarterback and plays with a mean streak (sometimes a little too mean however). There are questions about his work ethic a la Albert Haynesworth but with his former college defensive line coach Tracy Rocker assuming the same position here, plus with a no-nonsense head man in Munchak, I see the rewards being much greater than the risk.

The quarterback position is tough to predict in this year's draft. Mostly everyone assumes Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert will be gone by the top 10, which leaves Locker, Dalton, Christian Ponder, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallett as the remaining "top" quarterbacks on the board.

There are two scenarios that I would prefer the Titans to be in come draft day. The first is trading back into the first round if someone like Locker, Dalton or Ponder are there. I would prefer not to trade with New England because of their trading history or give up a first in 2012, but I can see both happening. I am a fan of Locker, Dalton and Ponder, but don't want them with the 8th overall selection because they aren't worth it there.

The second scenario is staying pat and waiting till the second round to pick a quarterback. Quarterbacks selected in the second round don't have a good success rate, which scares me, but if a lot of these guys are still on the board through the first round, then I would want a quarterback at #40. The most likely selection here would be Kaepernick, who I also like a lot, but I only want him if I know we'll get a veteran quarterback in free agency to mentor him. Kaepernick is at least two years away from being ready for the NFL, but the potential is definitely there.

Mallett is not on my draft board until the third or fourth rounds. I hate the drug rumors surrounding him, the character issues, the pompous attitude he carries and his mobility. There's no questioning his arm but I just can't see someone who has all those red flags being the face of the franchise. If he somehow falls to the third or fourth round and the Titans are still without a quarterback, then I'm all for drafting him just because he's not as much of a risk nor is he looked upon as the future of the franchise. If he pans out, fine, but if not, then oh well.

Other guys I would love in the middle to later rounds are Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, USC center Kris O'Dowd and Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel. All three would fit big needs in positions that we are very weak at.

Go Titans.

Side note: Huge game for the Penguins tonight with a Game 7 home match-up against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I hope Eric Tangradi and Deryk Engelland will find their way onto the ice tonight because Tangradi can help a more-than-pathetic power play while Engelland possibly can't be worse than Ben Lovejoy. Let's go Pens!