Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    NFL

    Titans Brass Address Defensive Needs in Draft

    Ron WynnBy Ron WynnMay 2, 2019No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Titans GM Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel said after last week’s draft that they felt the Titans had addressed their primary needs, especially on defense.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Ron Wynn

    NASHVILLE, TN — The Titans addressed primary defensive needs during last week’s NFL draft, which was held in Nashville. They chose a defensive lineman with their

    first pick, the 19th overall. Then they drafted defensive help with picks four through six, while adding some offensive depth with their second and third picks.

    However the bulk of the attention and scrutiny is coming regarding their first selection, former Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons. At six feet, four inchdes and 301 pounds, there are no questions regarding his size.

    But there are multiple questions regarding his past and present status. A video surfaced on ESPN and elsewhere showing the 2016 incident in which Simmons repeatedly punched a woman, even when she was on the ground. The background behind this involved Simmons’ sister, mother, and her deceased children.

    But bottom line was and is Simmons has been shown on video hitting a woman. He has since repeatedly apologized for that incident, and Titans’ majority owner Amy Adams Strunk publicly supported Simmons during a press conference last week, saying he’s shown he’s deserving of another chance and has a spotless record since that time.

    The other troubling aspect concerns an ACL injury Simmons suffered while training in February. He’s going to miss at minimum a large portion of his rookie season, if not the entire year. But Titans management, and particularly head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson both insisted that he was too good a talent to pass on at 19, and that they anticipate he will eventually become a starter next to current star Jurrell Casey.

    Their second pick was former Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown. He ended his career as Ole Miss’s career leader in pass receptions and it’s hoped that he’ll add both depth and speed to a receiving corps that didn’t exactly bowl anyone over last season. Brown can play either outside or in the slot, and considering the Titans were 29th last year in passing yards per game, he will get every chance to contribute immediately.

    The Titans offensive line also didn’t have a particularly great year, especially at guard. Their third pick, former Charlotte offensive lineman Nate Davis, will 

    get an early shot at starting, especially since Josh Kline and Quinton Spain aren’t returning. The fourth choice, former Iowa safety Amani Hooker’s forte is defending against tight ends, something that’s been a Titans’ weakness for many years. They traded up five spots to get him.

    The last two selections were linebackers. The fifth choice was former Georgia outside linebacker D’Andre Walker, who slipped to the fifth round in somewhat of a surprise. 

    Their final choice, former West Virginia inside linebacker David Long isn’t expected to contribute immediately, but is viewed as depth behind Wesley Woodyard abd Rashaan Evans.

    The three-day draft event set both attendance and viewing records. In total across Nielsen-measured channels, all NFL Draft telecasts combined to reach more than 47.5 million viewers over the three-day event, a five percent increased from last year. It also attracted more than 600,000 fans to various venues across Nashville.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Ron Wynn

    Related Posts

    Magic Continues for Titans’ Number One Fan

    February 7, 2021

    North Nashville Native Traci Otey Blunt Spearheads NFL Vote Initiative

    October 23, 2020

    Titans Finally Set Their Roster

    August 13, 2020

    Titans Make no Progress on Clowney Signing

    August 6, 2020

    Titans Ready for Training Camp

    July 23, 2020

    Titans Preseason Schedule Changes

    July 9, 2020

    Comments are closed.

    Business

    Charlotte Knight Griffin Takes Office as TBA President-Elect

    June 30, 2025

    EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

    June 19, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Report from Neighborhoods USA Conference in Jacksonville

    June 4, 2025
    1 2 3 … 384 Next
    Education
    Education

    Austin Peay’s MPH program receives $27K for childhood literacy initiative. Community LIFT Project to be implemented at Head Start centers this fall

    By Ethan SteinquestJune 30, 2025

    CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s Master of Public Health program is on a…

    TSU, State, reach agreement to reallocate $96M to school

    June 26, 2025

    TSU student lands prestigious internship at Harvard Medical School

    June 25, 2025

    FAMU stakeholders file lawsuit to prevent Marva Johnson’s confirmation as the university’s 13th President

    June 21, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/