Titans DB Caleb Farley named darkhorse for Rookie of the Year

Tennessee Titans rookie defensive back Caleb Farley should have been drafted much higher than he was in the 2021 NFL Draft. Medical issues dropped him on many NFL teams’ draft boards, but the good news for the Titans is he recently passed his physical and has been practicing with the team, per Ian Rapoport.

He was one of the top-rated defensive backs in college football and likely would’ve been drafted higher than he was, if it weren’t for his injury history.

PFF’s Anthony Treash summarized Farley’s draft profile in the 2021 NFL Draft when he wrote: “Farley was a clean medical report away from going within the first 10 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, he was among the 2020 opt-outs and has had to battle a slew of injuries over the last few years after tearing his ACL in 2017 and undergoing two back operations over the last two years.”

There’s a number of reasons PFF likes Farley as a darkhorse to win defensive rookie of the year honors in 2021, the biggest of which was his incredible coverage resume at Virginia Tech.

Treash wrote, “Farley has the size, length, speed and collegiate production that few prospects can boast. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound corner can run a sub-4.3 40-yard dash and was one of the best college cornerbacks of 2019, ranking top-three in the Power Five in coverage grade (90.5) and completion rate (36%).”

TITANS’ HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL ON CALEB FARLEY

Defensive back is a position where more often than not, it’s baptism by fire, whether it’s in college football or the NFL level. Farley has struggled at moments during fall camp and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talked about why he pulled him from a practice period a few days ago. Here’s what he had to say in his press conference.

“He’s just got a lot of work to do,” Vrabel said. “He made a mistake or didn’t do something great, kind of stood there or laid on the ground and I just said ‘that’s not how we’re going to do it.’ There are going to be a lot of mistakes that happen through the course of a game, but we’re going to go finish and we’re going to find someone to cover, or find somebody to tackle, or finish the play.”

Tons of rookies over the years have battled through adversity in the National Football League. Farley is no different from many incredibly talented prospects before him. There’s a reason there are only so many players that can stick in the NFL. It’s not easy. It’s one of the most competitive sports leagues on the planet.

DOMINANT 2019 SEASON

Farley opted out the 2020 season due to covid concerns, so let’s take a look at his 2019 campaign. Farley established himself as one of the premier cover corners in all of college football. He led the ACC in passes defended with 16.

The North Carolina native was also tied for second in the conference in interceptions with four. The 6-2, 207-pounder also snagged two interceptions against Miami. The former Hokie earned first-team All-ACC honors for his 2019 season.

NFL NETWORK’S DANIEL JEREMIAH ON CALEB FARLEY

Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah raved about Farley’s talent coming into the 2021 NFL Draft,

“He’s a freak show,” Jeremiah said. “I was around [former Ravens three-time Pro Bowl cornerback] Chris McAlister. That’s who he reminded me of, so he is a big-time, big-time talent.”

The Titans are hoping that immense talent and potential shine for them sometime in the future.