2013 DBN Mock Draft: Tennessee Titans Select Kenny Vaccaro at No. 10

With the tenth pick in the 2013 Dawgs By Nature NFL Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select...

Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas

This selection and write-up was made by pt_999:

This is a stretch considering all of the other great players that can be drafted at the tenth spot. Why would I pick Vaccaro for the Titans? There is a simple answer: the void that the Titans have at the strong safety position needs to filled for the sake of the secondary. Strong safety was the worst-managed position for the Titans last season, according to sources, with Jordan Babineaux being benched multiple times and released this offseason, prompting the Titans to sign veteran free agent George Wilson. Wilson is over 30 years old and is past his prime, so drafting Vaccaro to learn from a veteran like Wilson will help him and the Titans in the long run.

Free safety Michael Griffin, who just got a contract extension last offseason, needs for there to be stability at the other safety position in order for him to play at his best. Wilson won't be that player for long, so drafting his replacement in Vaccaro makes sense. There are players like Bjoern Werner, Star Lotulelei, Jonathan Cooper, and Xavier Rhodes who are better prospects, but the Titans can find players in those position in the later rounds to draft. They've also signed their offensive guard in free agency in Andy Levitre. If Dee Milliner was still available, I would have drafted him to add another starting cornerback, but since he was gone, I don't think Rhodes or Trufant are worth the 10th pick. There are a bunch of other good cornerbacks sitting in the later rounds, but not that many elite safeties.

From Vaccaro's scouting report, he possesses all the skills and has the frame of a NFL strong safety, and can drop back into the free safety position for coverage. His overall style of play and skills are being compared to the Chargers' Eric Weddle. The impact Vaccaro will have is that either he will out-work Wilson for the starting job, or the Titans will have him learn under Wilson, and make him the eventual starter, either part-way through this season or in 2014.

In terms of where he has been projected, Vaccaro might seem like a slight reach. He seems to be touted as a very sound safety, though, and in that case, I don't think anyone at ten or later is much of a reach. I think the Titans would still go with an offensive guard if Warmack was available, or a cornerback if Milliner was available. Since both of them are off the board, Vaccaro can hopefully be a presence in coverage against the Texans' and Colts' passing attacks.

The San Diego Chargers are up next, led by JamesPowell.

2013 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)