The Tennessee Titans are preparing to face the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in what should be an interesting game, with inclement weather in the forecast. If that weather hits as expected, the game could come down to the rushing attacks, and the Giants have a tank in running back Cam Skattebo leading the charge.
A physical wrecking ball, Skattebo has been a fan favorite since his college days at Arizona State and has proved a dynamic weapon when healthy in the pros. During a media availability this week, Titans head coach Robert Saleh was asked about Skattebo, said he scouted him, and mentioned that San Francisco had him on their board and likely would have selected him if New York hadn't snatched him.
While this happens a lot
in the draft, it’s clear that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was a fan of Saleh, sharing that intel. When asked about it on The Sports Leader, Shanahan admitted he had a problem with it.
“I mean, [what Saleh said] didn’t bother me that much. But that’s kind of the hard thing, when it’s not just X’s and O’s. It’s when people go in other buildings that have been in your building for so long, that kind of, you know, they go over the philosophies, how you look at the team, the personnel, things like that. So it’s more than just the X’s and O’s.”
Shanahan does have a point and can be frustrated, but only because it became public knowledge. Players being selected before teams that also covet them happens every year, and it can be heartbreaking; it can also lead to rushed decisions and panicked selections. This is where experienced general managers and scouting departments earn their money.
The 49ers went on to take defensive tackle CJ West in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, eight picks after Skattebo came off the board, so it is possible he may have landed somewhere other than New York and not made it to them at pick No. 113.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Kyle Shanahan irked by Titans' Robert Saleh's comments on Cam Skattebo
