Pros and cons of Tennessee Titans picking Auburn football’s Roger McCreary in 2022 NFL Draft

Auburn football defensive back Roger McCreary was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday.

The first-team All-America cornerback was the No. 35 overall pick, making him the third player taken in the second round.

Here is what the Titans are getting in McCreary.

The positives

McCreary's consistent production through Auburn's change in defensive scheme was remarkable. He developed into the top cornerback in Kevin Steele's press-man system. Then Steele was fired and replaced by Derek Mason before McCreary's senior season. All of a sudden, Auburn was playing off-man coverage, resembling zone with more post-snap reads of a receiver's first steps. Cornerbacks learned what McCreary described as "zone eyes."

McCreary became a consensus first-team All-American, recording 14 pass breakups and two interceptions. Whenever Auburn needed to revert to a one-on-one lockdown matchup, McCreary was the guy. He competed against top SEC receivers. He's mostly a boundary corner, but NFL teams can also line him up in the slot.

McCreary has a twitchy first step and quick burst after changes of direction. He's effective at creating leverage, and he has elite vision, instinct and field awareness.

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The concerns

The draft profile doesn't exactly match McCreary's production. Length is the leading concern. McCreary is 5-foot-11 with a 70⅝-inch wingspan, the shortest of all cornerbacks measured at the combine. He has short, quick strides.

He doesn't lack physicality, but his arm length occasionally inhibited his tackling ability. Concerns about size have always followed McCreary. He was a three-star recruit out of high school. He exceeded expectations at Auburn. The question is whether his athletic traits translate to the NFL in spite of the length.

Final thoughts

McCreary peaked as a borderline top-20 pick during his senior season, as experts such as Mel Kiper Jr. took note of his coverage skills in the SEC. The projections faded into the second round after the season, and there's always an element of risk to an undersized draft pick.

But McCreary has proven himself a quick learner and versatile playmaker at the highest level of college football. After all, it's uncommon for cornerbacks his size to reach a first-round ceiling in mock drafts. If he's a risk, he's one worth taking.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Tennessee Titans pick Auburn's Roger McCreary in 2022 NFL Draft