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Tennessee Titans' 2016 draft class: Analysis, grades, best picks, highlights

With the 2016 NFL draft now complete, every fan wants to review his or her team's draft. Where were the reaches? Was there enough value? Any potential busts?

ESPN Insider's NFL draft experts are here to provide a full recaps of every team.

For all 32 NFL teams, click here.

Tennessee Titans

Scouts Inc. on 2016 class

1 (8) Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State | Highlights

What he brings: Conklin is a former walk-on who plays with a chip on his shoulder. A powerful run-blocker, he has good inline power and is constantly working to finish blocks. He is not an elite athlete, but he has ideal length and enough athleticism to keep blockers at bay when his technique is sound. Conklin played left tackle in college, but he projects as a right tackle in the NFL. He has the physicality and toughness that is coveted at the position. -- Kevin Weidl

How he fits: Most felt that Titans first-year general manager Jon Robinson would target an offensive tackle had he not traded out of the first pick, considering Tennessee surrendered a league-high 54 sacks last year. Now he trades back into the top 10 to get one of the top three tackles in this draft. We projected Conklin as a right tackle but he tested better than expected and he could stay at left tackle, which would allow Taylor Lewan to shift over to the right side. -- Steve Muench


2 (33) Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson | Highlights

What he brings: Dodd is coming off a breakout season in which he had 62 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He's at his best rushing the passer, showing good bend around the edge. He flashes an effective change-of-pace inside move. Though he's not as effective defending the run, he has the frame and size to set the edge. On the downside, Dodd didn't test as well as expected at the combine, and his lack of production heading into his senior season raises a red flag. He has also had problems staying healthy.

How he fits: With Derrick Morgan coming off a season-ending shoulder injury and Deiontrez Mount coming of a torn ACL, the Titans needed to add competition and depth at outside linebacker. The 33rd-ranked player on our board, Dodd is a good value and he's athletic enough to line up at outside linebacker in Titans defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau base 3-4 looks. -- Steve Muench


2 (43) Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State | Highlights

What he brings: The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle is a productive interior defensive lineman who finished last year with 15 tackles for loss and six sacks. Johnson is at his best defending the run. He has shown the ability to shoot gaps and disrupt plays in the backfield, as well as the ability to anchor and control blockers. Johnson doesn't project as a high volume pass-rusher, but he flashes the ability to push the pocket and move quarterbacks off the spot.

How he fits: This comes as a surprise for a couple of reasons. Jarran Reed and A'Shawn Robinson, both from Alabama, are available and better values at this point. In addition, the Titans re-signed Al Woods to a three-year deal, but Woods has started only 10 games over the past two years. Johnson has the tools to develop into an effective nose tackle in this scheme and push Woods for playing time, plus he has more upside as a pass-rusher. -- Steve Muench


2 (45) Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama | Highlights

What he brings: The former Heisman Trophy winner is a punishing runner with a freakish height, weight and speed combination. Henry has excellent power and balance as a runner and is an absolute nightmare to tackle when he gets to the second level where he shows deceptive top-end speed to outrun pursuit. He is high cut though, which hampers his lateral agility and ability to make defenders miss and he becomes far less effective when defenses are able to create penetration. A lack of versatility in the passing game is a concern, but he has a chance to develop into a No. 1 back who can end up being a workhorse. -- Kevin Weidl

How he fits: Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson isn't taking any chances when it comes to improving a run offense that struggled between the tackles and finished 25th in rushing yards per game last year. After trading for DeMarco Murray in the offseason and addressing the offensive line with his first pick, Robinson adds a physical, downhill runner in Henry who is at his best between the tackles. In addition, improving the run game should help second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota. -- Steve Muench


3 (64) Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State | Highlights

What he brings: A combine snub, Byard is a team captain and four-year starter. He's not a downhill thumper defending the run. Though he ran well (4.44) at his pro day, he doesn't play as fast on tape. He's still one of the most underrated safety prospects in this class. He's a playmaker with above-average instincts and the production to prove it; he finished his college career with 19 interceptions. He's also a good tackler and reliable run defender. -- Steve Muench

How he fits: The Titans signed Rashad Johnson to a one-year deal, and Byard, who has ball-hawking instincts, will add immediate depth in the secondary. He provides a safety net in the middle of the field which should serve well with Dick LeBeau's heavy zone-blitz scheme. -- Kevin Weidl


5 (140) Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts | Highlights

What he brings: Sharpe is a four-year starter who led the FBS in receptions in 2015 with 111. He is a smooth athlete with a long and lean frame. He displays very good polish as a route runner and also possesses solid body control when adjusting to throws and has reliable hands. He lacks ideal top-end speed, which puts limitations on his ability to stretch the field vertically. Sharpe has the chance to develop into a No. 3 or No. 4 possession receiver. -- Kevin Weidl


5 (157) Leshaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah | Highlights

What he brings: Sims is a four-year starter who comes with a quality makeup and solid work ethic. He has plus size to go along with good strength and range and is physical in run support. Sims' best fit will be for a heavy press-man or press-zone team that can mask some tightness that he displays when forced to transition in space. He is a late-developmental prospect who has the potential to add depth and contribute on special teams as he progresses early in his career. -- Kevin Weidl


6 (193) Sebastian Tretola, OG, Arkansas | Highlights

What he brings: Tretola is a mauler who has a massive lower half and excellent inline power. He is a bit heavy footed, however, and doesn't have exceptional athleticism. But he has the size and power to drive defenders off the ball when he is able to establish position. Tretola has shorter arms and can show more patience in pass protection, but he has enough short-area quickness to hold up. He has a chance to add depth on the interior and potentially develop into a starter for a power-man blocking scheme. -- Kevin Weidl


7 (222) Aaron Wallace, OLB, UCLA

What he brings: Wallace started just 11 games at UCLA but he has the size, top-end speed and athletic ability to make an immediate impact on special teams and develop into an effective backup outside linebacker. -- Steve Muench


7 (253) Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Miss | Highlights

What he brings: Reed is an instinctive cornerback with quality size and athleticism who shows very good ball awareness and production. -- Kevin Weidl


Mel Kiper's Draft Grade: A-

Kiper: The Titans not only got a bunch of good football players in this draft, they should have one of the best 2017 draft classes thanks to the premium picks they added when they moved out of the No. 1 slot. That's factored into the grade here. As for what they got this year, well, it's quite a bit even if the value was just OK in spots. Jack Conklin is a good player, and will compete to start at left tackle, and perhaps end up at right. Either way, that's a starter at a need spot. Kevin Dodd helps the pass rush, Derrick Henry gives them running back help (even though you can get good running backs much, much later), Austin Johnson will jump into the mix on the D-line, and Tajae Sharpe could compete for time at wide receiver. Leshaun Sims and Kevin Byard could help in the secondary, though not early on. If there's a question mark for me, it's whether they should have added a corner or wide receiver earlier. But overall, they got a bunch of players who have the chance to help, and the picks for next year will turn into more. This is what rebuilding looks like, and they already have the QB.


Todd McShay's favorite pick

Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (No. 8 pick)

If I said it once, I said it 100 times: I loved the Titans' trade down from No. 1 to No. 15, as they collected a haul of picks from the Rams. But Tennessee had to make sure it left the draft with one of the top-three offensive tackle prospects in this draft. The only way the Titans were going to do that was by trading up from No. 15, which is exactly what they did to select Conklin with the eighth pick. Keeping QB Marcus Mariota on the field and healthy has to be this franchise's No. 1 priority. A plug-and-play right tackle, Conklin is one of the safest picks in this draft. He has upside as a pass-blocker and shows great toughness in the run game.