Michigan State's Jack Conklin, center, poses for photos upon arriving for the first round of the 2016 NFL football draft at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans have selected offensive tackle Jack Conklin of Michigan State with the eighth pick overall after trading up with Cleveland.
Selecting a lineman was not unexpected as new general manager Jon Robinson has said his priority is protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota.
The Titans made the trade and the pick Thursday night, two weeks after trading the No. 1 pick overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
Tennessee gave up the 15th pick overall and the 76th pick overall along with a second-round pick in 2017. The Titans also received a sixth-round pick in this draft.
This is the third time in the past four drafts that Tennessee has taken an offensive lineman with its top draft pick.
But Tennessee gave up the most sacks (54) in the NFL in Mariota's rookie season, and the quarterback missed a total of four games after spraining each knee.