The Tennessee Titans have an attendance problem, which is likely related to their win problem.
To make matters worse, the team looks poised to take an offensive lineman with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Titans Nation is sure to respond with a collective nap.
In a gasp to generate some excitement, the Titans have landed RB DeMarco Murray in a trade with the Eagles. If there’s any consolation, the team couldn’t look worse with Murray in the backfield.
If Murray can return to his 2014 form where he led the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards, the Titans brass will look wise. But if Murray replicates his 702-yard effort last year, the Titans brass will look, well, like the Titans.
As a pro football enthusiast who believes the way to build a team is through the draft, the Titans prove what happens when you string together one forgettable draft after another. You can say what you want about coaching and implementing the right system, but when you continue to strike out on draft day you’re going to get pancaked.
Consider this: The last time the Titans drafted an impact player in the first round was in 2008 when they selected RB Chris Johnson.
Since then they have taken, in order, WR Kenny Britt, LB Derrick Morgan, QB Jake Locker, WR Kendall Wright, OL Chance Warmack, OL Taylor Lewan, and QB Marcus Mariota.
Wright has been the only player of the bunch who has been moderately productive. Warmack and Lewan have both been starters on a laughable offensive line. Mariota has the most potential to be an impact player, but after one injury-riddled season it’s too early to tell.
Unfortunately, the Titans draft woes don’t stop in the first round. Two years ago they selected Bishop Sankey in the second round as the first RB taken in the entire draft. Considering the acquisition of Murray, it would be stunning for Sankey to even make this year’s roster.
It was four years ago when the Titans traded up in order to draft WR Justin Hunter with the second pick of the second round. The lanky Hunter is too fragile to go over the middle and drops as many passes as he catches. He has been the poster child for disappointment.
To show what a difference drafting can make, let’s take a look back at the Titans when the team was consistently making the playoffs.
Beginning in 1995, the Titans drafted the following players in the first round: QB Steve McNair, RB Eddie George, DL Kenny Holmes, WR Kevin Dyson, DE Jevon Kearse, LB Keith Bulluck, DB Andre Dyson, and DT Albert Haynesworth.
A player like DeMarco Murray may provide flash, but you build a team through the NFL draft. Here’s hoping the Titans snap a seven-year skid of miserable draft performances and select some hammers this year.