2021 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Football Team goes offense in Round 1

The Titans signed Jadeveon Clowney late in the offseason to try to upgrade their lackluster pass rush. Clowney played in eight games for the Titans and recorded zero sacks. He didn’t register much pressure and was a better run defender than anything else. Go figure.

With Clowney set to hit the open market again this offseason, the Titans will probably let him walk and may turn their eyes to the draft to upgrade one of their biggest defensive weaknesses.

At this stage in the draft, Jaelan Phillips is the best edge rusher remaining. He could be the first one off the board this year depending on how he compares to Paye and Rousseau, but 22 just about represents his current floor.

Phillips played one year at Miami after two years at UCLA. With the Hurricanes, Phillips was a force. He totaled eight sacks, showed off good athletic ability, and used his 6-foot-6, 266-pound frame to get into the backfield on ease. That’s how he racked up 15.5 tackles for loss, and he appears to be a well-rounded player that should do well at the NFL level.

Phillips would pair well with Harold Landry, who has averaged 6.3 sacks per season with the Titans during his three-year career. The two would help interior defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons to strengthen a weakness of the Titans and make it easier for them to contain some of the better offenses in the NFL.