Well, RTC Fan had obligations that prohibited him from making his pick so I tapped Ryan Wilson of NFL FanHouse, Football Outsiders and Heels, Sox & Steelers fame to make the Titans pick. In the interest of the professionalism, I couldn't leave this pick up to just anyone (certainly not myself). Many thanks to Ryan for coming through so quickly.
And with the 24th pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select:
Michigan State WR Devin Thomas
Ryan Wilson with the pick:
Generally speaking, the Titans aren't crazy about using a first-round pick on a wide receiver (the last time the organization did it was in 1998 when they drafted Kevin Dyson out of Utah) but they might be willing to make an exception this time around.
Tennessee has needs at defensive end and running back, but Vince Young also needs a legitimate pass-catching target. Justin Gage and Roydell Williams tied for the team lead in receptions last year (55), but neither is a No. 1 receiver.
(Of course, there are some concerns that Vince Young also has something to do with the anemic passing attack, but he only has 28 career starts, and perhaps more importantly, he was the team's third-overall pick in 2006. He's not going anywhere.)
Devin Thomas followed up a pedestrian sophomore season (6 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD) with an eye-opening effort as a junior (79 catches, 1,260 yards, 8 TDs), and his NFL Combine performance pretty much sealed his first-round fate.
Thomas was so versatile that Michigan State often motioned him into the backfield, which could partially alleviate the need for a running back with this pick. He's also a dangerous returner, and that makes it even easier for the Titans to unload Pacman Jones.
1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling
18. Houston Texans - OG Branden Albert
19. Philadelphia Eagles - FS Kenny Phillips
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR/RS DeSean Jackson
21. Washington Redskins - WR Limas Sweed
22. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OL Gosder Cherilus
24. Tennessee Titans - WR Devin Thomas
On the clock: Seattle Seahawks (Thursday AM - ChiefSuni)
Up tomorrow: ChiefSuni, nillaguerilla and Ben