And with the #30 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans Select...

by Chris Thorman on Apr 3, 2009 7:30 AM CDT in 2009 AP Mock Draft

California C Alex Mack

Lvl. 99 with the pick...

Coming into the 2009 NFL Draft, the Titans are coming off a league best 13-3 regular season record. The team has the luxury of not having to plug any major holes, so they are in a position to draft the Best Player Available. With that being said the Titans could use some improvement with depth at offensive line, a true #1 wide receiver, an upgrade at linebacker, and a bit of help at the cornerback position. In fact, come draft day, I believe the Titans will address most of these needs. But alas this mock is only for the first round so this is where we shall concentrate our efforts.

So far we have seen some big names taken off the board, but there remain some big fish in the pond. Some of the players the Titans will have to take a hard look at will be DJ Moore/CB, Vanderbilt and Darius Butler/CB, Connecticut. Both of these players are physical corners and are capable of helping out the return game on special teams. Either of these two players would come in Day 1 and compete for a starting job with current incumbent, an aging, Nick Harper. It would make sense for the Titans to pick one of these guys, but the Titans have been burned in the past with their selections of cornerbacks in the first round. Adam “Pacman” Jones in 2005 and Andre Woolfolk in 2003, who? Andre who? Exactly.

In the 2009 Draft look for Tennessee Titans to think about taking a corner in the first round, but in the end go with the pick that catches everyone off guard,

Alex Mack/C, California, said to be the best center prospect coming out in the last decade and looked phenomenal at the senior bowl. Last year, when the Titans lost to the Ravens in the divisional round, one could point to two reasons this happened. The first would be that a majority of the Ravens players; particularly on defense, are criminals, thugs, and bullies. With that mindset and seeing that Chris Johnson was running all over them they decided to cheat and break his ankle at the bottom of a pileup. The second reason would be that, Kevin Mawae, Tennessee’s All Pro center, was injured and didn’t play. Mawae was born in 1971 and has been hit by the injury bug twice in the last three years. The fact that this guy played at such a high level for any period of time is a bonus for the Titans. Mawae needs to be replaced sooner rather than later and with a team that depends so heavily on the run as the Titans do the chance of getting the best center in a very deep class is a boon. Mack may have slipped passed the Eagles and the Vikings but his fall is over, with the 30th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Tennessee Titans select Alex Mack/C, California.

Previous pick: WR Darrius Heyward-Bay

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock: Arizona Cardinals (THE_TRUTH)

Click over for the schedule and current draft results.

Pick	Round 1	Selection	Date	Community Approval
1	Detroit Lions - UCrawford	LB Aaron Curry	Weds. March 10th	Forgot to do a poll
2	St. Louis Rams - Lanier63	OT Jason Smith	Monday, March 16th	67%
3	Kansas City Chiefs - TonyG88	OT Eugene Monroe	Monday, March 16th	56%
4	Seattle Seahawks - mikvogel	DT B.J. Raji	Tuesday, March 17th	46%
5	Cleveland Browns - HIV2Elway	WR Michael Crabtree	Tuesday, March 17th	37%
6	Cincinnati Bengals - mistamic	OT Andre Smith	Weds., March 18th	43%
7	Oakland Raiders - mushin	WR Jeremy Maclin	Weds., March 18th	38%
8	Jacksonville Jaguars - DThomasReigns	WR Percy Harvin	Thursday, March 19th	29%
9	Green Bay Packers - JasonM	DE/OLB Everette Brown	Thursday, March 19th	68%
10	San Francisco 49ers - Harry Feltersnatch	QB Matt Stafford	Friday, March 20th	61%
11	Buffalo Bills - ArrowDread	LB Rey Maualuga	Friday, March 20th	50%
12	Denver Broncos - Keyser Sose	DE Brian Orakpo	Monday, March 23rd	58%
13	Washington Redskins - Official Arrowhead Pride Parade	T Michael Oher	Monday, March 23rd	64%
14	New Orleans Saints - cmpotter	CB Vontae Davis	Tuesday, March 24th	46%
15	Houston Texans - ChiefsDude	CB Malcolm Jenkins	Tuesday, March 24th	61%
16	San Diego Chargers - Helmets	DE Tyson Jackson	Weds., March 25th	58%
17	New York Jets - NJChief	QB Mark Sanchez	Weds., March 25th	77%
18	Chicago Bears - Holmeslice	QB Josh Freeman	Thursday, March 26th	28%
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers - madtheory	DT Peria Jerry	Thursday, March 26th	45%
20	Detroit Lions (from Dallas) - UCrawford	DE Aaron Maybin	Friday, March 27th	54%
21	Philadelphia Eagles - Chiefsfan717	TE Brandon Pettigrew	Friday, March 27th	60%
22	Minnesota Vikings - kcsno56	WR Hakeem Nicks	Monday, March 30th	53%
23	New England Patriots - connerman	RB Chris Wells	Monday, March 30th	43%
24	Atlanta Falcons - RedNose	LB Clay Matthews	Tuesday, March 31st	53%
25	Miami Dolphins - shraggyj	LB Brian Cushing	Tuesday, March 31st	73%
26	Baltimore Ravens - Ben S	CB Alphonso Smith	Weds., April 1st
27	Indianapolis Colts - craig in calgary	LB James Laurinaitis	Weds., April 1st
28	Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina) - Chiefsfan717	OT Eben Britton	Thursday, April 2nd
29	New York Giants - ChiefsFan90s	WR Darrius Heyward-Bay	Thursday, April 2nd
30	Tennessee Titans - Lvl.99	C Alex Mack	Friday, April 3rd
31	Arizona Cardinals - THE_TRUTH		Friday, April 3rd
32	Pittsburgh Steelers - McWhirt33		Monday, April 6th

Poll

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

57 votes

No

35 votes

Indifferent

9 votes

101 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Sorry, But

There are higher-rated players out there, Mack’s not ranked as a first-round prospect and the Titans still have Kevin Mawae so he’s not even a need…basically, they reached to grab a backup. You want your first rounders to ideally step in and have a chance to start because of the contract they’re making. You draft your backups in the second round and lower.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 7:56 AM CDT reply actions

And Yes, Mawae Was Hurt

But he’s still starting when healthy and the Titans are still on the hook for his salary…if they were going to reach, they could have gone WR (Kenny Britt is less of a reach than Mack) or DT (Evander Hood to replace Haynesworth…also less of a reach than Mack). Or if they wanted a BPA, then they should have gone CB.

Predictions for 2009

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I also disagree on Britt and Hood.

I think Mack is better prospect than either player. He is a guaranteed anchor on the O-line for years.

by RedNose on Apr 3, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions

last time the titans picked a wide receiver in the 1st round of the draft was

the last millenia and we were all partying because it was 1999. So your saying that the Titans should have reached for the 4th or 5th best receiver in this year’s draft class, when the most dominant center prospect in the last decade is still available on the board? That’s mystifying.

The game of football is won in the trenches, the Titans are an excellent example of this. If Mack is available they take him. Plus in FA they have picked up Washington from Pittsburgh to add to their WR corp and signed Haye from TB to add to their already stout D-Line rotation. And as you’ll note by reading the entire mock draft for the Titans that they will consider a CB, but why would they take the 4th best CB available when they just signed Faggins to be a backup CB?

With all things considered the choice is clear for the Titans going with Alex Mack, the speculation that Britt or Hood are even close to comparison to Mack in value the Titans is comical nonsense.

by Lvl.99 on Apr 3, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Disagree

Mawae is on his last legs and Mack should be able to play guard for a season.

I have Mack rated about several players already taken. It’s hard to rank between late first and early second. By your rationale, it’s ok to take Mack with the 33rd pick, but not the 30th?

by RedNose on Apr 3, 2009 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm Saying That There Are Pressing Needs For The Titans At Positions Other Than Center

And higher rated players that fit those needs. Does Mawae need to be replaced soon? Sure…but not necessarily this year. They’ll need to replace Haynesworth more critically, because the Titans will be getting zero games out of him, and Evander Hood is ranked higher than Mack. They need a WR because their talent at that position sucks and Kenny Britt is also ranked higher than Mack.

Predictions for 2009

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Who has Hood ranked higher than Mack?

by RedNose on Apr 3, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Scouts Inc.

Predictions for 2009

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Also, I do think they probably need a WR, DT, and CB

But James Jones and Jovan Haye are a lot better than most teams DT’s, so it’s not a pressing need. And I would take Mack ahead of CB’s Darius Butler and DJ Moore and WR Kenny Britt.

by RedNose on Apr 3, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

The Titans have a replacement for Haynesworth

his name is Jason Jones he was last years 2nd round draft pick and when he started against the Steelers during the regular season he dominated tallying 3 sacks. They also have signed Jovan Haye to serve as a solid backup in the DLine rotation, so it makes zero sense to pick Hood.

Without Mawae in at center the Titans offense had zero push up the middle and that’s the bread and butter of their offense. You think the Titans value a WR more than the fulcrum to their offensive line? I’ve watched the Titans for years without a dominant wide receiver, you think they’re going to change their philosophy now? the answer is no of course not, Mack is an excellent fit for the Titans

by Lvl.99 on Apr 3, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

As For Mawae Being On His Last Legs

He played in 15 games last year. He’s still a good starter and they can still find a player to develop to play behind him lower down in the draft.

Predictions for 2009

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

It was painfully obvious how important having a dominant center is for the Titans

after watching them go against defensive stalwarts like Pittsburgh and Baltimore. If a prospect like Mack is available there is no way they let him pass by.

by Lvl.99 on Apr 3, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions

I Agree The Titans Were A Lot Worse Off On Offense Without Mawae

And they definitely need to replace him within the next year because he is close to the end. And your point is valid about Hayes and Jones. I just see them as needing other positions and Mack is a luxury at this point…and I’m leery about the argument that he can flip to another position, then go right back to center. You want the guys you draft in the first round to play the position that they’re going to be groomed for.

Predictions for 2009

by UCrawford on Apr 3, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Any team would be foolish to move him to gaurd.

If anything move old man Mawae and let him finish his career at guard. Or force him into retirement by cutting him and his broken down body.

Tim Floyd turning down our offer is more humiliating than getting rejected by a fat chick.

by HIV 2 Elway on Apr 3, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I think you can move him if you feel like he can handle the transition

If it’s going to be a problem, obviously just keep him at centre and figure out what to do with Mawae. Some guys seem to be able to move around the line a bit, some can’t.

by RedNose on Apr 3, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

I have seen Mack ranked as a first round prospect going as high as 21 to the Eagles

he’s rated as the best center in a deep class. Mawae missed an entire season in 2005 because of a tricep injury. He’s a warrior, but he got injured again last year before the season was finished and he couldn’t play against Baltimore. It hurt the Titans big time. Their game revolves around a power running game and without a dominating center in their it bought the Titans offense to their knees. With Mack sliding to 30, I can see Jeff Fisher’s eyes getting big and sending the pick in immediately.

by Lvl.99 on Apr 3, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Agre 100% with this pick.

I’m surprised he lasted this long. He is the best olineman in this draft, too bad for him that he doesn’t play one of the sexier positions. This guy will be the Anthony Munoz of centers.

Tim Floyd turning down our offer is more humiliating than getting rejected by a fat chick.

by HIV 2 Elway on Apr 3, 2009 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

I agree he'll be a first rounder.

I looked at him really hard for the next pick…..Cards when I was doing my analysis. They need a center as well. I didn’t pick him because I felt that there were other pressing needs for the Cards in the 31st spot.
However, most feel he’s a first round pick (that I’ve read) and I can’t comment on whether he’s the answer to the Titans in the future.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.

by THE_TRUTH on Apr 3, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions