(NASHVILLE) - The Titans drafted four players in the second and third rounds Friday night, none more surprising than Heisman Trophy-winning Alabama running back Derrick Henry.
Back on the clock in a hurry. The Titans used the 45th pick to select Alabama running back Derrick
Henry (6-3, 242, selected with the 45th pick, adds a second Heisman winner to the Titans' backfield, where he joins quarterback Marcus Mariota. Henry's 28 touchdowns last season was an SEC record. But his selection is curious, especially after the Titans traded for DeMarco Murray. Titans coach Mike Mularkey said both players can be on the field at the same time.
The Titans used the 33rd overall pick, the second pick in the second round, to select Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd, then used the 43rd on Penn State defensive tackle Austin Johnson.
The Titans are calling Dodd (6-5, 277) an outside linebacker, where he'll slot behind Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan. The Titans defense suffered tremendously last season when Morgan was lost to a shoulder injury. Dodd had 86 tackles, 23.5 for loss, and 12 sacks in 15 games last season.
Johnson (6-4, 314) had 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for Penn State last season. He was second among defensive linemen in FBS with 78 tackles.
The Titans use the 64th pick, the first in the third round, to select Middle Tennessee State safety Kevin Byard, who had a school record 19 career interceptions. Byard (5-11, 215) was not invited to the NFL combine, but impressed at the Senior Bowl.
The second-round selections were announced by retired defensive end Jevon Kearse, a first-round pick of the Titans in 1999. The third-round pick was announced by Titans tight end Delanie Walker.
