With the 20th pick in the 2016 NFL draft the Titans select Jack Conklin. Fills their biggest need with the 11th rated player (ESPN) overall and the 3rd rated OT in the draft.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2001906/jack-conklin
PLAYER OVERVIEW
Conklin was a late bloomer and couldn't garner any attention as a high school recruit, but worked his way to a scholarship at Michigan State and is now a legitimate first-round prospect - he would be the first Spartans offensive lineman drafted in the opening round since Tony Mandarich (1989).
Conklin missed two games in 2015 as a junior, starting 12 games at left tackle and earning First Team All-Big Ten and All-America honors. Conklin was All-Big Ten and All-American as a redshirt junior and opted to enter the NFL draft, a considerable climb four years after arriving in East Lansing as a preferred walk-on and redshirt.
Despite being the son of a former Michigan offensive lineman and high school head coach, Conklin went criminally under-recruited, receiving only one scholarship offer, but from Division II Wayne State. He planned to play the 2012 season at Fork Union Military School until Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio took another look at Conklin's tape, inviting him to walk on with the promise that he could earn a scholarship in 2013. After redshirting in 2012 in East Lansing, Conklin established himself as the starting left tackle. He started the next 40 games.
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Well-built with excellent core strength and center of gravity to stay balanced through contact. Wide base with lower body power to control the point of attack. Strong upper body and hands to jolt and steer defenders as a run blocker. Works hard to keep spacing with his reach. Controlled in space and picks up edge speed, sinking his hips to anchor. Rarely plays in reverse. Smart and instinctive, understanding protections and using his eyes to pick up extra pressures. Feisty and always looking for someone to block, displaying a dependable playing temperament. Accomplished three year starter with experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage (38 career starts).
WEAKNESSES: Adequate length, but doesn't play like it, allowing rushers into his body at times in an attempt to control them. Not a light mover and slow to recover once rushers gain a step. Tends to get his feet tied up in his outside kickslide, lunging and falling off balance. Will open up prematurely and struggle in space. Not a rangy player and too often late to climb to the second level. Technique tends to break down vs. speed. Medical reports are important - suffered a left knee sprain (Sept. 2015) and missed two games.
COMPARES TO: Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati Bengals - Due to his lack of ideal range and lateral quickness, many doubted Whitworth could consistently start at left tackle in the NFL, but he uses his wide base and core power to control edge speed, similar to Conklin at Michigan State.
IN OUR VIEW: Conklin is powerful and quick-minded to read/react in a flash and dominate in tight spaces, but he doesn't have the quick-twitch body control to consistently mirror in space. He's not a top-shelf athlete and will struggle with edge speed at times, but no one is going through him due to his wide base and contact balance.
He is always in a ready position and rarely seems surprised, which compensates for his lack of elite quickness in pass protection. Conklin is well-coached, physical and a natural competitor, which makes him NFL ready from Day One.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/jack-conklin?id=2555279
Jack Conklin Grade: 6.4
OVERVIEW
In hindsight, it's difficult to comprehend that Conklin had zero scholarship offers from FBS-level colleges coming out of high school. The son of a high school football coach, Conklin had all of the tools to start with, which may have been why Michigan State came through with a preferred walk-on offer in the spring of 2012. He earned a scholarship halfway through his redshirt season, working over highly-recruited defensive ends in practice to earn their respect. Conklin started 13 of 14 games in 2013, 10 at left tackle and three on the right side, to earn multiple Freshman All-American honors. More people started taking notice of his toughness and strength in his sophomore season, as both league coaches and media named him a second-team Big Ten player at left tackle. Even though Conklin missed two games in his junior campaign with a leg injury, he garnered All-American recognition from nearly every outlet in addition to consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors for his ability to protect quarterback Connor Cook. Conklin's leadership and skills on the line during his final year in East Lansing helped the Spartans climb the Ohio State hump and capture a much-desired Big Ten Championship.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Scrappy with ability to recover when beaten. Showed Oregon's DeForest Buckner what time it was by bouncing him around at the point of attack. Plays with good core strength and impressive power in his hands. When he latches into defenders framework, he makes it difficult for them to disengage. Works well with guards in combination blocks. Leveraged second level climbs and careful not to climb too high and allow linebackers to slide underneath him. Makes strong initial contact as a run blocker and rolls hips up underneath him to uproot defenders and secure his blocks. Technically sound in pass protection with a wide base and ability to mirror. Consistently shoots inside hand first and lands his punch with good accuracy. Drops anchor like a door jam in pass protection sinking his rear and getting arm extension with inside hand placement.
WEAKNESSES
Not a deluxe athlete and might have issues with NFL edge speed. Has a habit of "opening the gate" too quickly in his pass sets rather than maintaining a more squared pad level for longer. Able to stuff single rush moves, but average athleticism will be tested by counters. Always looks to win on the physical front and can be a little slow to work his feet into proper position after initial contact. Hands can get a little wide and grabby once hes in space.
SOURCES TELL US
"That is a dude, right there. He was busting up Ohio State in the fourth quarter of that game not because he was more talented than those guys but because he just wanted it more. He's tougher than old beef jerky. He fits in our division." -- NFC North scout
NFL COMPARISON
Jon Runyan
BOTTOM LINE
Possesses top flight size and strength at the tackle position and has the technique and recovery athleticism to make up for his average foot quickness. Conklin went from solid in 2014 to very good in 2015 and teams must now decide whether or not they want to give him a chance at left tackle or plug him in on the right side where he should be able to step in right away and become a quality starter. Conklin has some physical limitations, but he's got solid technique and exactly the field demeanor that offensive line coaches will be looking for.
@Killgasm is on the clock
@Tron is in the on deck