The Tennessee Titans are up next, two years removed from an incredible season. Since then, they lost defensive star Albert Haynesworth and went through a horrific beginning to the 2009 season and then a disappointing 2010 season. The team's seeds are great and new head coach Mike Munchak will want to put his first imprint on the team with this draft. It is clear that the team misses Haynesworth's inside presence and there are still the two highest rated defensive tackles available.
Cory Williams brings you the Titans' projected pick today.
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Tennessee is living the dream in this mock draft. With seven players off the board, the two best defensive tackles in the NCAA are still available. Are you kidding me? Picking between Marcell Dareus of Alabama and Nick Fairley of Auburn is extremely difficult, since both have such outstanding talent. But with the eighth pick of the SB Nation Arizona 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select Nick Fairley.
Anyone who watched the BCS National Championship Game could tell that Fairley was in a league of his own. But in case you need a refresher on his stat line that fateful night, here it is: five tackles (3.5 of which were for losses), 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Oregon's offense was completely disrupted by this one man. While Dareus might be bigger in terms of weight, Fairley is a smidgen faster.
Both players will fare well in the NFL, but Fairley is the guy for the Titans right now. They don't necessarily need him, but when the opportunity arises to take a top-flight talent, you take the leap.
The Dallas Cowboys are next up. Scott Howard will make his projection for them.
2011 SBN AZ Mock Draft recap:
1- Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn (Jess Root)
2- Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M (Cory Williams)
3- Buffalo Bills: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri (Scott Howard)
4- Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Green, WR, Georgia (JR)
5- Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU (CW)
6- Cleveland Browns: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson (SH)
7- San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina (JR)
8- Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn (CW)