The Titans take a calculated risk with their first-round pick.

Over the past three years, Detroit Lions fans have often looked to the Tennessee Titans for inspiration. Head coach Mike Vrabel has been able to accomplish everything that Matt Patricia was trying to build in Detroit. Of course, they’ve come up short of the ultimate goal, but three straight seasons with a winning record, two straight playoff appearances and an AFC Championship appearance are far more that Detroit has dreamed of over the past three decades.

But they still need to get over the hump. And this year it will be on Big.AL to help. He is the Titans general manager in our Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft. Before we get into the pick, check out our Community Mock Draft tracker for the picks that have gone before them.

With the 22nd pick in the 2021 Pod Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley.

Here’s Big.AL with the pick:

Caleb Farley possesses all of the physical tools you want in a day one starting cornerback. He has size and length, phenomenal ball skills, and he’s sticky in coverage. He’s the kind of corner that excels in press man coverage and that’s exactly what he’ll be asked to do in Tennessee.

The downside here is that Farley tore his ACL in 2017 and dealt with back injuries during his 2019 season before opting out of the 2020 season. His injury history may be a bit concerning to some teams and may explain why he is available here at pick 22, but you simply can’t find a skill set like his anywhere else in the draft. And after Northwestern CB Greg Newsome, who is also supposed to go in Round 1, the talent starts to drop off at the position. In the NFL draft, there aren’t a ton of perfect marriages when it comes to talent on the board and team needs, but this one was a no brainer.

The Titans could also use some help on the edge and at receiver, among other spots, and there are talented players at those positions worthy of selection here as well, like WR Rashod Bateman and DE/OLB Jayson Oweh, but Farley is too talented and cornerback is the bigger need.

Erik Schlitt’s thoughts:

The Titans have more holes than you would expect for a playoff team but with the salary cap dropping, this is more commonplace this year. They need linemen on both sides of the ball, and while it’s still a bit too early to grab a defensive tackle, RT Teven Jenkins would be very appealing at this spot. That being said, after the Isaiah Wilson debacle—the RT taken in the first round of last years draft, who is no longer with the team—I would understand them being hesitant to go that route this year.

I also like Big.AL’s suggestion that Bateman could be in play here, but I agree with his conclusion that Farley offered better value. Farley is a top-16 talent, but because his recovery from back surgery is still being evaluated, it’s hard to say when he will be ready to take the field and that’s why he is available at this spot.