Colts competing with Titans for top tackle prospect Teven Jenkins
By Mike Luciano
The Indianapolis Colts will almost assuredly address the offensive line depth, or lack of same, in the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, if they want to secure a prospect like Texas’ Samuel Cosmi, Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw, or Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins, they might need to fend off competition from the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans will need a new right tackle, as last year’s first-rounder, Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson, was already let go and appears to be at the end of his NFL journey despite playing just four snaps.
With the Colts picking in the same area, these two teams could both compete for prospects picked in the high 20s.
Jenkins has been the flavor of the month among those in the Draft Twittersphere, and he has solidified himself firmly in the first-round debate. While he could be a target for Indianapolis, the latest rumors seem to hint at the fact that Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson would also like the chance to draft Jenkins.
Per NFL Network’s Charley Casserly, the Colts and Titans, who have consecutive picks in this draft at No. 21 and No. 22 respectively, are both “seriously interested” in Jenkins. Casserly compared him favorably to Cleveland Browns right tackle Jack Conklin, who became an All-Pro as a rookie after being picked eighth overall by Tennessee in 2016.
According to @CharleyCasserly, the Titans and Colts are seriously interested in OKST OT Teven Jenkins.
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) April 8, 2021
“For the Titans, it’s a no brainer. This guy is going to be better than Jack Conklin who they selected in the top-10.”
The Colts might not let Teven Jenkins fall to the Titans.
Jenkins has started to shoot up draft boards after an excellent final season in Stillwater, as his raw power in both run blocking and pass protection will serve him well in the pros. His production against some of the best edge rushers in the country has also helped him edge out contemporaries like Alex Leatherwood, Jalen Mayfield, and Dillon Radunz.
He isn’t the best athlete in the open field, and the potential of having to switch from right to left tackle might be too much for some teams to stomach, but Jenkins has all the attributes of a Day 1 starter. If Indianapolis is set on offensive-line help, Jenkins might have the highest ceiling of players picked in that range.
Sam Tevi and Braden Smith are the two tackles at the moment for Indy, but Smith might be able to switch over to the left side in order to accommodate Jenkins. Doing so would give the Colts the best offensive line in the AFC, which is imperative with regard to setting up Carson Wentz for success.
The Titans are awful on defense, but a quality offensive line could help Ryan Tannehill and Tennessee make the postseason for the third straight year. If the Colts pass on Jenkins, they might have to live with him plying his trade with the Titans.
