Analyst links C.J. Stroud with Titans ahead of NFL Draft

ESPN's Todd McShay has suggested the Tennessee Titans could move up in the draft order to select Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud on the night of April 27. 

McShay told Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website about an interaction he noticed between Stroud and Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel, like Stroud, played his college football at Ohio State. 

"I was standing there with Stroud at the (Ohio State) pro day and Vrabel came over and said: 'Hey, go take a shower and let's meet in the wide receiver room.' So, there's a relationship there, obviously with Vrabel and his background at Ohio State," McShay explained. "That doesn't mean they are going to take him or want to move up for him. I'm just saying there is a relationship there, and it is interesting." 

McShay noted that the Houston Texans could grab somebody such as Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the second-overall pick. That, theoretically, could allow the Titans to send the No. 11 choice and other assets to the Arizona Cardinals to land a signal-caller such as Stroud with the third selection. 

In a mock draft shared on April 11, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that Tennessee will move up from No. 11 to No. 3 to take Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson and have Richardson sit behind veteran Ryan Tannehill for at least one season. 

"This seems like the time to draft a quarterback for your future," McShay added about the Titans. "So, I'm interested to see how aggressive they get."

Interestingly, CBS' Will Brinson updated his mock draft on Wednesday and had Tennessee moving up to get none other than Stroud at pick No. 3 as of the afternoon hours. 

For what it's worth, Texans general manager Nick Caserio hinted earlier this week he could sell the No. 2 selection ahead of the draft for the right price. That could prove to be useful information for Tennessee, especially if the rival Indianapolis Colts want to make the jump in the draft order from No. 4 to No. 2 specifically for Stroud.