POD Community Mock Draft: Pick No. 30

Rd. # Player Pos. College 1 30 Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina General Manager: Twon82

With the 30th pick of the 2009 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks.

Here is Twon82's reasoning for the pick:

After an impressive season, the Titans still have a couple of spots that they ought to focus on in this year's draft. Even though Jeff Fisher is known for being able to get away with picking simply "best available," this year will be a little different. The team needs wide receiver help like they need to breathe oxygen (and has needed it since the days of Derrick Mason), and Hakeem Nicks is essentially the best available at this point in the draft.

Nicks impressed NFL scouts at the Meineke Car Care Bowl versus West Virginia and has not failed to continue to impress throughout the offseason. He is known for having some of the best hands out of anyone in this year's draft and is a playmaker that the Titans could desperately use immediately. The Titans could also be strongly considering a CB or a DT at this point in the draft. I heavily considered selecting DT Evander Hood or CB D.J. Moore, based on their needs at those positions after free agency losses (most notably Haynesworth). However, after consulting with Titans fans and doing extensive research, it seems only right for the Titans to pick up a WR and let Kerry Collins breathe a little easier in the drop-back position.

Something that I believe is worthy of noting is the Titans' small, small, small possibility of going QB with this pick (QB Josh Freeman). Vince Young is most likely not going to be a Titan after this season unless something drastic changes in his ability to lead (his contract is asking way too much money for the little contribution he is giving), and Collins is getting old. To have the young guy understudy Collins would be a huge help, and I am sure Fisher is considering this option. But I don't think it is strong enough to predict. Nicks is the best pick for the Titans here if they go offense, which I think they will.