The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, set to kick off April 23 in Pittsburgh. With back-to-back 3-14 seasons behind them, general manager Mike Borgonzi cannot afford a single misstep at the top of the board.
The debate over that fourth pick intensifies with every mock draft published.
The Most Important Draft for Tennessee in Years
This year is not a normal rebuilding draft. After two consecutive coaching changes in three years and historically terrible records, the Titans are searching desperately for stability. Borgonzi has built his scouting philosophy around durable, high-character prospects who assimilate quickly into locker room culture.
Day One will immediately test that philosophy.
Tennessee owns nine total selections across seven rounds, including picks No. 4, 35, 66, 101, 142, 144, 184, 194, and 225. Still, the No. 4 and No. 35 picks carry the most organizational weight by a significant margin.
As a result, every mock draft published right now carries real stakes for Titans fans.
Jeremiyah Love: The Offensive Game-Changer
The most popular projection across recent mock drafts sends Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to Tennessee at No. 4. CBS Sports analyst Zachary Pereles is among the latest to make that connection, arguing Love gives Cam Ward a legitimate offensive weapon capable of changing games immediately.
The comparison to San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey has surfaced repeatedly in draft circles. New Titans head coach Robert Saleh spent years coaching alongside McCaffrey in San Francisco and understands firsthand what an elite three-down back does for a young quarterback’s development.
Love is explosive, versatile, and arguably the most dynamic offensive prospect available outside the top three picks. Some analysts believe he is worthy of being the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.
However, positional value remains the central counterargument. Running backs historically do not warrant top-five selections, and Tennessee’s defensive needs are equally time-sensitive.
David Bailey: The Defensive Cornerstone
On the other side of the debate sits Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. Many analysts consider Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese the top two edge defenders in the entire 2026 NFL Draft class.
The Titans’ defensive line already features Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, with recently acquired Jermaine Johnson II added via trade. Still, Tennessee desperately needs another impact pass rusher to complete that rotation.
Coach Saleh is a defensive-minded head coach at his core. His tenure with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers proved he builds winning teams through dominant defensive fronts. Bailey’s speed, technique, and motor off the edge align perfectly with that coaching identity.
Based on our field observation, selecting Bailey at No. 4 signifies a more secure long-term investment for a franchise that is fundamentally reconstructing its defensive identity. A fully healthy and motivated defensive line anchored by Bailey and Simmons would immediately become one of the more disruptive units in the AFC South.
The Wild Card: Sonny Styles
One prospect generating quiet buzz inside Tennessee’s draft room is Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Styles brings elite length, sideline-to-sideline speed, and genuine playmaking instincts to a defense that craves athleticism at the second level.
Saleh’s defensive system has historically rewarded versatile linebackers who can blitz, cover, and disrupt. Styles fits that profile almost perfectly. Therefore, dismissing him as a realistic No. 4 candidate would be premature.
Second Round: The Denzel Boston and Ted Hurst Angles
Beyond the first round, Tennessee’s No. 35 overall pick carries enormous weight. Borgonzi’s preference is clear — he wants a first-round caliber prospect who slides unexpectedly into early Day Two territory.
Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston has emerged as a favorite target in that scenario. Boston is a physical, boundary X receiver with an alpha mentality in contested catch situations. The Titans’ current receiver room features flexible slot options like Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, and Chimere Dike but lacks a true outside threat opposite Elic Ayomanor.
Meanwhile, Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst has emerged as a rising name connected directly to Tennessee’s front office. ESPN’s Jordan Reid reported that Titans sources have repeatedly mentioned Hurst as a player the organization closely monitors. At 6-foot-3 with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, Hurst presents a rare combination of size and speed at the wide receiver position.
Initially projected as a third or fourth-round selection, Hurst’s stock is climbing fast. A second-round selection is no longer out of the question.
Interior Line and Secondary: The Supporting Cast
Tennessee’s offensive line situation also demands attention on Day Two. Free agent Austin Schlottmann is currently slated to start at center despite logging only four starts with the New York Giants last season. That level of inexperience at the pivot position creates obvious vulnerability for a young offense built around Cam Ward.
Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge and Iowa center Logan Jones have both surfaced as realistic targets to address that interior offensive line need across rounds two through four. Both players bring starting experience and the physical, high-character profile Borgonzi consistently prioritizes.
In the secondary, Miami cornerback Keionte Scott offers elite athleticism and instincts as a nickel corner option. His 4.33-second 40-yard dash at his pro day drew immediate comparisons to the kind of physical, aggressive defensive backs Saleh has consistently coveted throughout his coaching career.
Additionally, Kansas State safety VJ Payne adds meaningful depth behind Kevin Winston Jr. with outstanding length at 6-foot-3 and an 80-inch wingspan.
The Trade Scenario That Changes Everything
One intriguing possibility involves a potential trade-down from No. 35. According to one best-case draft projection, the Pittsburgh Steelers—hosting this year’s draft—could offer picks No. 53 and No. 76 to move up to No. 35. That would give Tennessee additional Day Two ammunition to address multiple positional needs simultaneously.
Borgonzi pulled off a similar deal in 2025, landing both Oluwafemi Oladejo and safety Kevin Winston Jr. through strategic trade maneuvering. History suggests he is comfortable and capable of executing that kind of calculated move again.
Meanwhile, one CBS Sports mock draft also projects a separate trade scenario involving the Seattle Seahawks sending picks No. 32 and No. 96 to Tennessee in exchange for No. 35 and additional selections. That would theoretically allow the Titans to select Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. — though trading back into the first round for a linebacker remains a difficult sell given the depth of Tennessee’s positional needs.
What the Titans Must Get Right
The Titans’ 2026 NFL Draft success ultimately comes down to two things—nailing the No. 4 pick and maximizing the value of No. 35. Every other selection matters, but those two choices will define Borgonzi’s tenure and determine how quickly this rebuild accelerates.
Tennessee has the cap space, the draft capital, and the coaching staff to make this work. The roster foundation is taking shape with recent free agency additions already addressing cornerback and defensive line depth.
Still, no amount of offseason optimism replaces getting the draft right. The clock is ticking, Pittsburgh is waiting, and the entire NFL world is watching to see what the Titans do next.
