Chance Warmack, Titans First Round Draft Notes

* Warmack is the first player from the University of Alabama to be chosen in the first round by the Titans/Oilers.

Chance Warmack Among Six O-Linemen Taken Early in First Round

Alabama guard Chance Warmack was among six offensive linemen chosen in the first 11 picks of the 2013 NFL Draft.

1 – Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher (Kansas City Chiefs)
2 – Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel (Jacksonville Jaguars)
4 – Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles)
7 – North Carolina G Jonathan Cooper (Arizona Cardinals)
10 – Alabama G Chance Warmack (Tennessee Titans)
11 – Alabama OT D.J. Fluker (San Diego Chargers)

Warmack was also one of three consecutive Alabama players chosen in the first round, as the Crimson Tide became the first college since at least 1967 to have three consecutive first-round picks.

The New York Jets chose cornerback Dee Milliner with the No. 9 overall pick, Warmack was chosen at No. 10 and the San Diego Chargers snagged Fluker at No. 11.

In all, the SEC had 12 players drafted in the first round, the most by any conference. Since 2000, the SEC leads all conferences with 540 total draft choices.

MOST FIRST ROUND PICKS BY CONFERENCE

SEC – 540
Big Ten – 455
PAC-12 – 396
Big XII – 374
ACC – 338

Peter King’s Mock Draft Shows UNC Guard Jonathan Cooper to Titans at #10

The day before the start of the 2013 NFL Draft, veteran football writer and analyst Peter King unveiled his mock draft, lining up North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper with the Titans at #10.

King has Alabama guard chance Warmack going to Buffalo at #8 and LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo to the Jets at #9. King shows Georgia LB Jarvis Jones slipping to Pittsburgh at #17.

Here’s how King sees the first round going down:

1. Kansas City: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
2. Jacksonville: DE Ziggy Ansah, BYU
3. Oakland: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
4. Philadelphia: DE/OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon
5. Detroit: CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
6. San Diego: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
7. Arizona: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo: G Chance Warmack, Alabama
9. N.Y. Jets: DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
10. Tennessee: G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
11. Cleveland: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
12. Miami: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
13. N.Y. Jets: WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
14. Carolina: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
15. New Orleans: DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
16. St. Louis: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
17. Pittsburgh: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
18. Dallas: S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
19. N.Y. Giants: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
20. Chicago: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati: RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama
22. St. Louis: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
23. Minnesota: LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
24. Indianapolis: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State.
25. Minnesota: WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee
26. Green Bay: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
27. Houston: WR Keenan Allen, California
28. Denver: DE Datone Jones, UCLA
29. New England: WR Terrance Williams, Baylor
30. Atlanta: CB Desmond Trufant, Washington
31. San Francisco: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
32. Baltimore: LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State

So final thoughts from Titans fans before the draft begins in less than 24 hours?

SI’s Don Banks Has BYU’s Ziggy Ansah to Titans at #10

Sports Illustrated columnist Don Banks has the Titans using their 10th overall pick on 6-5, 271-pound defensive end Ziggy Ansah out of BYU.

Banks’ latest mock draft shows Alabama guard Chance Warmack going to Arizona at #7 and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper selected by Buffalo at #8.

Banks says: “The top-eight run on offensive linemen unfortunately leaves the Titans out in the cold on that front, but they can also readily use more pass rush and some disruptive defenders. In this scenario Tennessee would have its choice between the raw but intriguing Ansah and the play-making (Barkevious) Mingo. The Titans could also put the pick up for auction if anybody has to have either of those players, quarterback Geno Smith, or even Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes (Miami, we’re looking in your direction).”

Here’s how Banks sees the first round going down:

1. Kansas City: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville: DE/OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon
3. Oakland: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
4. Philadelphia: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
5. Detroit: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
6. San Diego: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
7. Arizona: G Chance Warmack, Alabama
8. Buffalo: G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
9. N.Y. Jets: CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
10. Tennessee: DE Ziggy Ansah, BYU
11. Cleveland: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
12. Miami: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
13. N.Y. Jets: DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
14. Carolina: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
15. New Orleans: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
16. St. Louis: WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
17. Pittsburgh: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
18. Dallas: DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
19. N.Y. Giants: DE Tank Carradine, Florida State
20. Chicago: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati: LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia
22. St. Louis: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
23. Minnesota: CB Desmond Trufant, Washington
24. Indianapolis: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
25. Minnesota: LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
26. Green Bay: OT Menelik Watson, Florida State
27. Houston: WR Keenan Allen, California
28. Denver: DE Datone Jones, UCLA
29. New England: CB D.J. Hayden, Houston
30. Atlanta: CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State
31. San Francisco: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
32. Baltimore: S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International

So let’s hear from Titans fans — who would be your pick at #10 should the draft go down like Banks says it will in the first nine picks?

Mock Drafts Show Different Options for Titans

With the NFL Draft just around the corner, we have accumulated the latest mock drafts from a variety of analysts. So here they are, and feel free to chime in with your opinion.

Don Banks, SI.com – G Chance Warmack, Alabama

Brian Billick, NFL Network – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Gil Brandt, NFL.com — G Chance Warmack, Alabama

Bucky Brooks, NFL Network – DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

Dan Brugler, NFLDraftScout – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Charley Casserly, NFL Network – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Charles Davis, NFL Network – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Akbar Gbajabiamila, NFL Network – G Chance Warmack, Alabama

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Mel Kiper, ESPN – G Chance Warmack, Alabama

Todd McShay, ESPN – DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida

Josh Norris, NFL.com – S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas

Tony Pauline, Draft Analyst – DE Ezekiel Ansah, Brigham Young

Scott Pioli, NFL Network – S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas

Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout – LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Matt Smith, NFL.com – G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

Mike Tannenbaum, NFL Network – DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri

Clay Travis, Nashville’s 104.5 the Zone – DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU

Preseason Slate Offers Titans Top-Level Competition

The Titans will face four playoff teams in the preseason — Washington, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Minnesota — giving them a high level of preparation entering the 2013 regular season.

“It will be a great opportunity for us to evaluate our own players and see where we stand against some of the better teams in the National Football League,” GM Ruston Webster told Titans Online Thursday.

The four opponents also present a variety of different style quarterbacks for Tennessee’s defense to prepare for.

“We’ll see it all,” Webster said. “We’ll see spread and read options, we’ll see drop-back passers and some outstanding NFL players.”

All in all, an attractive preseason slate for Titans fans with the Redskins and Falcons offering some star power and regional flare at LP Field.

Will Titans and Falcons Practice Again in Training Camp?

Will the Titans conduct another joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons during training camp?

They did so last year in Dalton, Ga., and both sides deemed it a success.

With Thursday’s announcement showing the Titans hosting Atlanta in the third week of the preseason, the question was broached to Titans GM Ruston Webster.

“We’ve talked about that and we’ll just have to see if it works out with both of our schedules,” Webster said. “We had great work with Atlanta last year. I really felt like it was good for us and Coach Munchak felt like it was good for us. We’ve had talks, but we’ll just see.”

Mike Mayock’s Top 5 Players at Each Position in Draft

NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock recently unveiled the third edition of his list of top five players at each position in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Quarterback
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia
2. EJ Manuel, Florida State
3. Matt Barkley, USC
4. Mike Glennon, N.C. State
T-5. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
T-5. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Running Back
1. Eddie Lacy, Alabama
2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin
3. Andre Ellington, Clemson
4. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina
5. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

Wide Receiver
1. Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
2. Keenan Allen, Cal
3. Tavon Austin, West Virginia
4. Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

Tight End
1. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
2. Zach Ertz, Stanford
3. Gavin Escobar, San Diego State
4. Travis Kelce, Cincinnati
5. Vance McDonald, Rice

Center
1. Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
2. Brian Schwenke, Cal
3. Barrett Jones, Alabama
4. Khaled Holmes, USC
5. Braxston Cave, Notre Dame

Guard
1. Chance Warmack, Alabama
2. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
3. Larry Warford, Kentucky
4. Kyle Long, Oregon
5. Brian Winters, Kent State

Tackle
1. Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
2. Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
3. Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
4. D.J. Fluker, Alabama
T-5. Menelik Watson, Florida State
T-5. Justin Pugh, Syracuse

4-3 Defensive End
1. Bjoern Werner, Florida State
2. Ezekiel Ansah, BYU
3. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
4. Sam Montgomery, LSU
T-5. Tank Carradine, Florida State
T-5. Alex Okafor, Texas

3-4 Defensive End
1. Star Lotulelei, Utah
2. Margus Hunt, SMU
3. Datone Jones, UCLA
4. Jesse Williams, Alabama
5. William Gholston, Michigan State

Defensive Tackle
1. Sharrif Floyd, Florida
2. Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
3. Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
4. Kawann Short, Purdue
5. Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State

4-3 Outside Linebacker
1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia
2. Arthur Brown, Kansas State
3. Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
4. Sio Moore, Connecticut
5. Chase Thomas, Stanford

3-4 Outside Linebacker
1. Dion Jordan, Oregon
2. Jamie Collins, Southern Miss
3. Barkevious Mingo, LSU
4. Michael Buchanan, Illinois
5. Corey Lemonier, Auburn

Inside Linebacker
1. Alec Ogletree, Georgia
2. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
3. Kevin Minter, LSU
4. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
5. Kiko Alonso, Oregon

Cornerback
1. Dee Milliner, Alabama
2. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
3. D.J. Hayden, Houston
4. Desmond Trufant, Washington
5. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut

Safety
1. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
2. Matt Elam, Florida
3. Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
4. Eric Reid, LSU
5. Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse

Titans Listed Among AFC’s Winners in Free Agency

The Titans entered the 2013 off-season with a calculated plan.

They specifically targeted players they felt would fill needs and wasted little time acquiring them once free agency began.

Three weeks into free agency, rave reviews continue to pour in for the job GM Ruston Webster and his staff have done playing an aggressive role in improving Tennessee’s roster on both sides of the ball.

In a recent story on NFL.com, the Titans are mentioned as one of three free agency winners in the AFC, along with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

NFL.com Around the League Editor Gregg Rosenthal said the the Titans’ approach to free agency “looked like a plan.”

“They got tougher,” Rosenthal wrote. “Guard Andy Levitre helps shore up their interior offensive line. Delanie Walker might be the best blocking tight end in football and could put up comparable numbers as a receiver to the departed Jared Cook. Defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill and safety George Wilson were smart, cheap pickups on defense.”

Webster told Titans Online.com Friday free agency signings will likely slow down now as the team turns its attention to the NFL Draft.

But don’t rule out additional signings if the right situation becomes available and makes sense.

Mike Munchak: “Jake’s Going to be Our Guy”

When the Titans agreed to terms with Ryan Fitzpatrick Monday after contract negotiations broke down with Matt Hasselbeck, it was with the understanding that he will serve as Jake Locker’s backup going forward.

Head coach Mike Munchak made that clear during an interview with Fox Sports.com’s Alex Marvez at the NFL owners meeting.

“I think (Fitzpatrick) understands his role,” Munchak said. “It’s Jake’s team. It’s Jake’s time. Jake’s going to be our guy. We made that decision last year after training camp.

“Ryan has been in this situation before … He’s going to compete with (Locker) and I think he’ll help him a lot throughout the week. It will be another great mentor for him. And we feel he can win if he has to play. That’s how we felt with Matt Hasselbeck also.”

Unlike last year when Munchak staged a training camp/preseason battle between Locker and Hasselbeck to determine the starting job, Locker will not be looking over his shoulder as he prepares for the 2013 season.

“This offseason, it’s nice that Jake will be going into camp knowing that he’s our quarterback,” Munchak said. “He’s got to stay healthy. We know that. That was probably the biggest problem last year. It’s hard to judge him because he didn’t play as much and he played injured.

“Unfortunately, when you have a quarterback who runs around a little bit they get hurt. There’s a chance that second quarterback is going to play a lot. We feel we had that situation with Matt and now with Ryan we have the same thing.”