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Well the Titans can go a couple places here. They can go the eccentric route and gamble on Aldridge, but that'd be a reach. They signed Carr anyway so they don't see a need for Aldridge.
They can go pure value and pick up QB Dennis Dixon, who projects to be a fairly good backup in the NFL and hell, he has the exact same skillset as Vince Young so the Tits won't have to change up their gameplan.
Dwight Lowery is not worth the gamble for the Titans' defense. Lowery at this point projects to little more than a Cover 2 corner considering his performance at the combine. But they are sincerely interested in Boise State's CB Orlando Scandrick.
Cody Wallace warrants some consideration, but the Titans have solid depth at center.
So the Titans instead turn to a desperate situation for their defense: they absolutely seriously need a pass rush. They're getting it from Vander Boch or whatever his name is, they're going to get a little from the overrated Chris Ellis, so at this point they're going to survey the landscape and see who the most prolific sack-getter left is, and if it's good value, they'll bite. Vanden Bosch and Ellis will be their lunch pail guys; they need a guy who can get to the QB in obvious pass situations.
DE/OLB Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest (would project to DE) -- Thompson has been a physical blessing that's underachieved for his entire career, built with an incredible body tailor-made for chasing quarterbacks, but he didn't really fulfill that potential until his senior year, registering 7 sacks. Lots of upside, he's promising. Good value.
DE Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb -- Johnston is from a much smaller school and is raw as hell, but he projects to be more of a Jimmy Wilkerson, run-stopping DE lunchpail guy. He'd be okay value at this point, but he's not a good pass rusher. Not a fit. "Eh" value.
DE Kenny Iwebema, Iowa -- Iwebema is another strong-armed run-stopper at DE. He's hit his roof at this point, though, and the Titans are looking for a guy with some more upside. Reach.
Everybody else is a vast overreach for what the Titans want.
The decision's pretty easy, and while Thompson may evolve into a pass rush specialist, he also has the body to carry the lunchpail and get a lot done for this team.
With the 149th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select DE Jeremy Thompson, from Wake Forest University.
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