TITANS

NFL draft 2017: Titans pick Corey Davis, Adoree' Jackson

Jason Wolf, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Marcus Mariota has a true No. 1 wide receiver.

The Titans selected Western Michigan wideout Corey Davis with the fifth overall pick and Southern Cal cornerback and return specialist Adoree’ Jackson with the 18th overall selection in the NFL draft on Thursday night in Philadelphia. The Titans do not have another pick until the third round Friday, but the additions address the team’s biggest needs and provide a major boost on offense, defense and special teams.

Western Michigan's Corey Davis poses after being selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia.

“We wanted playmakers, and we think we got two really good playmakers,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Davis, who did not run the 40-yard dash after ankle surgery to repair two tendons in January, is the all-time leading receiver in FBS history with 5,285 yards.

The 5-10, 185-pound Jackson was named the Pac-12 defensive player of the year and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college football as a junior last season. He also tied the NCAA record for most career touchdown returns (four on kickoffs, four on punts and an interception).

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Both are expected to arrive in Nashville on Friday.

“The ankle is doing great. I expect I can be on the field tonight, if need be,” Davis said, though he was unsure whether he’d participate in offseason activities or be held out until training camp. “I don’t really know what they’re going to do, but I feel like I’m going to be ready. No doubt.”

Davis provides the Titans with a big target and savvy route-runner capable of fighting through contact and outmuscling defensive backs to make a catch.

He dominated MAC competition, becoming the only player in FBS history with 300 catches, 5,000 yards and more than 50 touchdowns, and he is second all-time with 52 receiving scores.

Davis caught a career-high 97 passes for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He joins Randy Moss as the only receivers from the MAC taken in the first round.

“We like the fact that he is a versatile player,” Robinson said, “that he does play outside, he does play inside, he’s a good route runner, he knows how to get open, he’s good with the ball in his hands, he’s physical as a blocker in the run game. He checks off a lot of boxes for that position.”

Jackson had five interceptions and 11 pass breakups last season.

The all-purpose threat had 139 career tackles, 29 pass breakups, six interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in three seasons as a starting cornerback at USC.

He also occasionally lined up on offense, adding 39 catches for 628 yards and six touchdowns, plus 15 carries for 92 rushing yards. His 2,141 kickoff return yards are most in school history.

“I know he has that ability,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “He’s a guy that can score when he has the ball in his hands. That’s a pretty big key.”

Jackson bolsters a Titans pass defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season. He is expected to start on the perimeter, opposite former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan, who signed with the Titans in free agency. Brice McCain will continue to serve as the Titans’ nickel corner.

Jackson said he’s “praying” the Titans allow him to return punts.

“I think I do a lot of things well,” he said. “I just don’t have the muscle memory in it. But I think that I am disciplined; I do a great job. I’m just ready to get to work and keep polishing myself up. No matter how polished I am, you can always shine more.”

Davis joins Titans wide receivers Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe, tight end Delanie Walker and running back DeMarco Murray in a passing attack that ranked 25th in the NFL last season.

Matthews led the team with 65 catches, 945 yards and nine touchdowns after joining the team in free agency last year. Walker was second with 65 catches for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. Murray was third with 53 catches for 377 yards and three scores.

The top three wide receiver prospects were all selected in the top 10.

Clemson’s Mike Williams was drafted seventh overall by the Chargers. Washington’s John Ross, who ran a 4.22-second 40 time to break the combine record held by former Titans running back Chris Johnson, went ninth to the Bengals.

“It means everything,” Davis said about being the first wide receiver off the board. “This is one of the greatest wide receiver groups that’s ever come through the draft. Just to be the first, it means so much. I’m going to work like I’m the last, though, and do everything I can, everything in my power to bring this team some (wins).”

The draft began as widely anticipated, with the Browns selecting Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick. But experts’ mock drafts were shredded in a hurry.

The Bears traded with the 49ers to move up from the third pick to No. 2, where Chicago selected North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. San Francisco also received a third-round pick (67th), a fourth-round pick (111th), plus a 2018 third-rounder in the deal. The Niners selected Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas.

The Jaguars drafted LSU running back Leonard Fournette fourth overall.

Tennessee received the fifth selection from the Rams as part of last year's "king's ransom" trade that sent the No. 1 pick to Los Angeles, which selected quarterback Jared Goff.

Robinson then sent the 15th pick (from the Rams) to the Browns to move up to eighth, where he selected tackle Jack Conklin, who was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie.

In addition to the Bears, the Chiefs and Texans traded up to select quarterbacks. Kansas City moved from No. 27 to No. 10 to select Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Houston jumped from No. 25 to No. 12 to take Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

On Tuesday, Robinson said he had serious conversations with teams about potentially trading down for the second year in a row, and estimated there was a "50/50" chance the Titans actually picked at five and 18.

"Not to speak for other teams, (but) that’s probably just the nature of the way the league is," Robinson said about the Bears trading up to draft a quarterback. "You’re looking to get one if you need one, and those trades manifest themselves as it did for us last year. We were able to move out of (the first overall pick) and back, and some teams tonight looked like they were able to do that as well."

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