15 Senior Bowl standouts Tennessee Titans should target in 2022 NFL Draft
The Tennessee Titans got a close look at some of the top prospects in the NFL Draft at the Senior Bowl last week.
Several Titans draft picks in the Jon Robinson era have participated in the event, and it's likely there were players from this year's event who could suit up for Tennessee next season.
Here are 15 names to watch for the Titans in the first round, the middle rounds and the later rounds:
First-round options
Jahan Dotson, Penn State
Position: wide receiver
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 184 pounds
College stats (2018-21; 42 games ): 183 receptions, 2,757 yards, 25 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? No
Dotson opted out of the Senior Bowl, but he showed Day-1 starting potential at Penn State. The Titans need depth at receiver behind A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, who’s coming off the worst season of his career, and more weapons who can win against man coverage. Dotson checks that box. What he lacks in size he makes up for in his athleticism, route-running ability and versatility.
Chris Olave, Ohio State
Position: wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 188
College stats (2018-21; 38 games ): 175 receptions, 2,702 yards, 35 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? No
Olave never had a 1,000-yard season at Ohio State and doesn’t appear to be an explosive athlete, but he’s a polished route runner who plays at his own pace. He showed elite body control when making contested catches for the Buckeyes.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Position: quarterback
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
College stats (2018-21; 50 games ): 810-for-1,304 passing, 10,239 yards, 87 TDs, 28 interceptions
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Ridder was inaccurate at times during Senior Bowl week, but he flashed arm strength and the mobility to make plays with his legs when plays break down.
The Titans are committed to Ryan Tannehill for 2022, but that doesn’t mean they won’t draft their quarterback of the future in this class. Ridder even told reporters that Tannehill is one of the quarterbacks he has modeled his game after.
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Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Position: quarterback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
College stats (2018-21; 37 games ): 260-for-384 passing, 8,281 yards, 57 TDs, 23 INTs
Senior Bowl participant? No
Corral has good arm strength and is not afraid to take on defenders on scrambles and designed runs, similar to Tannehill.
Trey McBride, Colorado State
Position: tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
College stats (2018-21; 40 games): 164 receptions, 2,100 yards, 10 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
McBride, believed to be the best tight end in this year’s draft class, was consistently impressive in Mobile, Alabama. The Titans need a true No. 1 tight end after leaning on a committee approach in 2021.
Mid-round options
Calvin Austin III, Memphis
Position: wide receiver
Height: 5-9
Weight: 162
College stats (2018-21; 36 games): 156 receptions, 2,541 yards, 22 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Austin was one of the most consistent receivers during Senior Bowl week, with a knack for creating separation. He’s a big-play threat with his speed. Austin could be an option for the Titans at slot receiver.
Cole Strange, UT Chattanooga
Position: offensive line
Height: 6-6
Weight: 301
College stats (2018-21; 49 games): 44 starts
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Strange, a Knoxville native, was one of the biggest small-school standouts in Mobile, a top performer in one-on-ones. He was primarily a left guard at Chattanooga but also played left tackle and took some snaps at center during the Senior Bowl.
Strange is the kind of prospect who could give the Titans options at multiple positions with the possibility of big change on the offensive line.
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
Position: quarterback
Height: 6-1
Weight: 220
College stats (2021): 476-for-687, 5,967 yards, 62 TDs, 11 INTs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
If the Titans don’t take a quarterback early, Zappe is their best mid-round option. Between his career at FCS Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, Zappe is one of the most prolific passers in college football history.
Logan Hall, Houston
Position: defensive line
Height: 6-6
Weight: 275
College stats (2018-21; 34 games): 97 tackles (19.5 for loss), seven sacks, one forced fumble, one pass defended
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Hall was one of the most dominant players in one-on-ones during the Senior Bowl and has versatility on the defensive line with his length and frame. If the Titans can’t re-sign Harold Landry, they’ll need depth on the defensive line.
Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
Position: tight end
Height: 6-6
Weight: 260
College stats (2018-21; 49 games): 168 receptions, 2,181 yards, 23 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
McBride was the best tight end in Mobile, but Kolar flashed potential as well. He’s another dual-threat tight end, which is what Tennessee needs at the position.
Late-round options
Greg Dulchich, UCLA
Position: tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 250
College stats (2018-21; 24 games): 77 catches, 1,353 yards, 11 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Dulchich has slid under the radar in a deep tight end draft class, but he was one of the standouts of the group during the Senior Bowl. If the Titans don’t select a tight end on Days 1 or 2 of the draft, Dulchich could be an option.
Bo Melton, Rutgers
Position: wide receiver
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195
College stats (2017-21; 56 games): 164 receptions, 2,011 yards, 11 TDs
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Melton never reached 700 receiving yards in a season at Rutgers, but he flashed potential in Mobile with his route running and ability to gain separation in wet and windy conditions.
Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
Position: cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 194
College stats (2017-21; 46 games): 139 tackles (10 for loss), 3 INTs, 25 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
With Kristian Fulton and Caleb Farley in place at defensive back, any big moves the Titans make at the top of the cornerback room figures to include a veteran. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tennessee draft another corner in the later rounds. Castro-Fields had some strong moments in Mobile, including an interception on a would-be touchdown during one-on-ones.
Tycen Anderson, Toledo
Position: safety
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
College stats (2017-21; 51 games): 233 tackles (9 for loss), 2 INTs, 16 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
If Dane Cruikshank leaves in free agency, the Titans will need a third option at safety behind Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker.
Rachaad White, Arizona State
Position: running back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
College stats (2020-21; 15 games): 224 carries, 1,426 yards rushing, 20 TDs; 51 catches, 607 yards receiving, TD)
Senior Bowl participant? Yes
Darrynton Evans has played just six games in two years due to injury, and D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard are pending unrestricted free agents. The Titans could be in need at running back.
White doesn’t project to be an every-down back, but he has excelled running outside the tackles and is a dependable receiver out of the backfield.
Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 15 Senior Bowl studs Tennessee Titans should target in 2022 NFL Draft
