Tennessee Titans' Derrick Morgan Is on the Hot Seat

All week, I'll be looking at former top draft choices who are on the hot seat with their teams. Today, Derrick Morgan of the Tennessee Titans is getting a tad uncomfortable.

Last year, the Titans were among the worst teams in football at rushing the passer. Considering that they used the 16th overall pick in 2010 on a defensive end, that's a disturbing fact. Morgan has been a major disappointment from the start. His raw numbers are pedestrian at best, racking up just four sacks and 25 tackles in two years.

Morgan struggled with knee injuries and saw limited action his rookie year, though he had some flashes of production last year. He led the team with 20 quarterback pressures, but no one drafts defensive ends with the 16th overall pick to get quarterback pressures. He plays the run reasonably well but has been a liability on passing downs. With a better pass rush, the Titans might have been a playoff team last year.

The fact is that 24 months after investing in Morgan, the Titans are still having to scour the free-agent market for defensive ends, and many believe they'll take another one in the first round this year. Any first-round pick should be nervous when the team is looking to stockpile talent at his position.

Fans in Indianapolis are up in arms over Jerry Hughes, but Morgan was taken half a round higher and hasn't been much more productive. His injury may have bought him some patience in Nashville, but the fact remains that the Titans need more from him in 2012 or he may find himself relegated to the bench.