Just a few days ago, it would be hard to imagine a less fantasy relevant team than the Tennessee Titans. Disappointing second-year running back, unproven sixth-round quarterback, functional wide receiver who catches plenty of passes but doesn't score touchdowns. Dull.
But things are looking up in Tennessee. They spent their top pick on a talented quarterback prospect in Marcus Mariota. In the second round they added an explosive, polarizing wide receiver prospect in Dorial Green-Beckham, who's drawn comparisons to Randy Moss (Good!) and Josh Gordon (Not all good.). And in the fourth round they added running back David Cobb, a player who might just push the underwhelming Bishop Sankey in the backfield this preseason.
Beat writers from the Nashville Tennessean have mixed reactions to the draft. They like Mariota, but appear to be split on Green-Beckham.
For John Glennon, Green-Beckham had "too many red flags." Jim Wyatt sees the talented wideout as part of a draft that "could help turn the franchise around." He looks like the key pick (aside from Mariota, anyway) that will determine if this team is one to be intrigued by this summer, or forgettable again.
I'm interested in Cobb, who rushed for 1,600 yards and scored 13 TDs at Minnesota last year. He's definitely going to push Shonn Greene off the roster; that's nothing to get excited about. The question is, is he fast enough to push to start in Tennessee? He got hurt running the 40 at Indianapolis, so ignore that 4.8, but he's at best a 4.6 guy -- might not be fast enough. Then again, he runs through contact and is tough to bring down. Wyatt believes he'll make a quick impact, maybe in part because no running back has for the Titans the last couple of years.
In the end, it's going to all be about Mariota. But the other offensive players the team selected will be critical to determining whether he emerges as a franchise quarterback.
--Andy Richardson