Tennessee Titans wrap up quiet three days with more roster moves to come

AP file photo by Mark Humphrey / Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson made just one trade during the 2020 NFL draft, but he said the work of building a roster never stops.
AP file photo by Mark Humphrey / Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson made just one trade during the 2020 NFL draft, but he said the work of building a roster never stops.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans made only one trade throughout the NFL draft that wrapped up Saturday, and general manager Jon Robinson's move came in the final round for a sixth-rounder in 2021.

It was a drama-free draft for a team with no big holes to fill coming off an unexpected run to the AFC championship game.

Robinson said that's the identity for a franchise now with four straight 9-7 seasons.

"We roll our sleeves up and we go to work, and we're not looking for flash or any of that ," Robinson said Saturday night. "We've got an awesome thing going."

TENNESSEE TITANS 2020 NFL DRAFT PICKS

April 23-25; with round, overall pick number in parentheses, player selected, position and college:1 (29) Isaiah Wilson (6-7, 350), OT, Georgia2 (61) Kristian Fulton (6-0, 197), CB, LSU3 (93) Darrynton Evans (5-10, 203), RB, Appalachian State5 (174) Larrell Murchison (6-2, 297), DT, N.C. State7 (224) Cole McDonald (6-2, 215), QB, Hawaii7 (243) Chris Jackson (5-10, 293), S, Marshall

Thursday night the Titans drafted their 6-foot-6, 350-pound right tackle of the future in Isaiah Wilson of Georgia at No. 29 overall, and they hope they added a cornerback who can start this season in Kristian Fulton of LSU at No. 61 in the second round Friday. Robinson split his six selections evenly between offense and defense.

Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans is the new backup to 2019 NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry, while Cole McDonald of Hawaii was a seventh-round pick to compete with Logan Woodside to back up quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the midseason starter replacement who earned himself a four-year deal worth $118 million after leading the league in passer rating last year.

Tennessee also added depth to its defensive line by selecting Larrell Murchison of North Carolina State in the fifth round, and defensive back Chris Jackson of Marshall capped their draft at No. 243 overall in the seventh round.

The Titans waited until No. 61 overall to take Fulton, but he'll likely get the first chance to replace veteran Logan Ryan, who's currently a free agent after starting every game the past three seasons with Tennessee. Ryan handled covering the slot, and Fulton said how he felt about playing inside was one of the first questions the Titans asked him.

The Titans found themselves an upgrade for Henry's backup in Evans after releasing Dion Lewis in March. The Florida native who ran the 100-meter dash for his high school track team went to Appalachian State as an athlete prospect playing receiver who switched to running back. Evans also brings more speed to the backfield as the second-fastest running back at the NFL combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds.

He has another skill that will appeal much more to Vrabel: No fumbles in 482 college carries - a Mountaineers record. Evans also can be an option on special teams, having returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

photo AP photo by Michael Conroy / North Carolina State defensive lineman Larrell Murchison runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine on Feb. 29 in Indianapolis.

Not having a pick in the fourth round because of the March 2019 trade with the Miami Dolphins for Tannehill meant the Titans had to wait until near the end of the fifth round before adding Murchison at No. 174 overall.

The Titans traded five-time defensive lineman Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos in March for a seventh-round pick. That left them needing more depth there with only recent veteran signee Jack Crawford and Isaiah Mack - the former Northwest Whitfield High School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout who signed after the draft as a free agent last year and became a contributor last fall - behind Jeffery Simmons and DaQuan Jones.

Murchison had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season playing various positions along the line.

The man nicknamed "Trader Jon" couldn't get through this draft without one move, though. Robinson traded the 23rd pick in the seventh round, the one they got in March from Denver for Casey, to Kansas City for the Chiefs' sixth-rounder in 2021. The Titans finished with six picks for a second straight draft, but Robinson said they should have at least eight in 2021.

Robinson said they agreed to terms with Missouri kicker Tucker McCann as an undrafted free agent to compete with Greg Joseph. That's what the Titans didn't do last year, when they expected veteran Ryan Succop to be healthy for the season. Instead, Joseph was the fifth and final kicker for a team that had the NFL's worst field-goal unit, converting a mere 44.4%, and Succop was released in March.

Joseph made only one field goal in the AFC championship loss to the Chiefs after the Titans went four straight games without a field goal.

Also, Robinson has not shied away from expressing the Titans' interest in at least talking with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, still on the free agent market.

Asked if the potential of signing Clowney influenced the Titans in the draft, Robinson said they looked at some edge rushers without taking any.

"The roster-building process is never over," Robinson said. "We'll continue to look at guys that are available in the post-draft process, these rookies that did not get drafted, as well as some veteran guys that are still out there."

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