Zaviar Gooden to Titans: How Does Outside Linebacker Fit with Tennessee?

The last time the Titans had a third-round compensatory pick was in 2010. The Washington Redskins backed up a Brinks truck for Albert Haynesworth and the Titans got the 97th overall pick in return. The Titans selected an undersized linebacker from Georgia named Rennie Curran. Curran was cut from the team after one year and is currently playing in the CFL.

The Titans got the 97th overall pick in this year's draft due to the loss of Cortland Finnegan. They took an undersized linebacker from an SEC school. Zaviar Gooden earned the draft slot due to an excellent NFL combine in which he had the fastest times for linebackers in every drill. 

The only obstacle to playing time for Gooden is a set of outside linebackers drafted with the last two Titans' second-round picks. Zach Brown and Akeem Ayers are going to be mainstays. Gooden does have good speed, so it's possible that he could get on the field when the Titans move Ayers to defensive end on passing downs. 

With his speed, Gooden's going to need to make his mark on special teams. 

Here's what fellow Bleacher Report writer Chris Roling had to say about Gooden's pass-rushing skills.

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Gooden does not offer much in the way of pass-rushing.

During his time at Missouri, Gooden was rarely used in this capacity, and for good reason. When tasked with doing so, he would routinely lose battles with offensive lineman and at some times even running backs. 

While he has a good motor, the skill set in terms of use of hands and a variety of moves to evade blockers simply is not there. 

When given an open lane to the quarterback, Gooden uses his elite straight-line speed to do so before anyone knows what is happening. Those opportunities will be rare at the next level. 

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Gooden looks like a player who will stick in the league for a while, but his opportunity to start is only going to come through injury. There really isn't a backup outside linebacker on the roster at the moment, so the Titans decided to shore up the position with the final pick of Day 2 of the draft.