The Tennessee Titans biggest strength going into the 2023 season is arguably upfront along the defensive line, where the team recently locked up Jeffery Simmons for the long term with a four-year, $94 million deal.
Despite that obvious strength, that hasn’t stopped the Titans from doing their due diligence on the defensive line prospects in the 2023 NFL draft, as the team has met with Bethel University defensive lineman, Darel Middleton, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.
After spending two years at Tennessee and one at West Virginia, Middleton transferred to Bethel in 2022, where he started in 10 games and tallied 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.
.@BU_FootballTN DL Darel Middleton has been busy since a standout @Hula_Bowl showing.
Middleton, a former @Vol_Football transfer, has met 12+ teams, including virtuals w/ #Titans, #Patriots, #Rams & #Jets
One NFC scout I spoke w/ predicts Middleton to be a starting DL in 2023.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 7, 2023
The information out there on Middleton is pretty scarce, but here’s a write-up on the 6-foot-7, 290-pound lineman that comes from CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt, who had this to say about the prospect back in November:
Middleton might be the best defensive line prospect in all of NAIA. He has the great combination of length, athleticism and explosiveness. You want to see guys with his attributes dominate his level of competition, and he does just that. I’m a big fan of his technique, showing the ability to strike first with his hands, read a play out well, disengage and then accelerate to make the play. In fact, he’s so athletic that Bethel has used him in goal line/low red zone situations as a fade, 50/50 guy. Expect to see him surface in a postseason all-star game for sure.
Middleton should be around at the tail end of Day 3 of the draft, but he could also go undrafted. Tennessee has been no stranger to finding an impact defensive lineman after the draft (see: Teair Tart).
