TicketsBar2NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans first use of their first pick on a defender came after a trade up of three spots that netted them Rashaan Evans, the Alabama linebacker.

When he was introduced as the team’s Mike Vrabel said the Titans would emphasize coverage consistency with front multiplicity.Evans

(Photo courtesy Alabama.)

And Evans looks to be an ideal piece for that front, where he’s can certainly be an inside linebacker but is also capable of rushing off the edge.

He was one of the linebackers Vrabel jumped into drills with during the Titans tour of pro days, so the coach got a up-close feel for a fellow linebacker.

Evans (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) carried a bit of mystery into the draft because he didn’t run a 40 at the combine or at his pro day, creating speculation he didn’t want to post a time.

But the Titans clearly feel he’s fast enough, and they made a deal with Baltimore to jump the Patriots and Panthers to get their man.

Continue reading

The rest of this story is for members

Membership gives you full access to every story on PaulKuharsky.com — Titans analysis, insider reporting, film studies and podcasts.

PK.com readers support independent Titans coverage.

Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at paulkuharsky.com. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and one of the longest-tenured Titans beat reporters in the franchise's history.

Cron Job Starts