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As the 2026 NFL Draft draws closer, let's consider the best-case scenario for the Tennessee Titans.
At this point in the draft process, everyone knows the deal. The Titans have major needs at edge defender, wide receiver and interior offensive line and could stand to improve at running back, tight end, swing tackle and defensive back. After back-to-back 3-14 seasons and two coaching changes in three years, the Titans are searching for stability, and GM Mike Borgonzi has a history of favoring durable, high-character draft prospects who'll assimilate quickly into locker room culture.
So here's a world where everything goes as planned for the Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft. Talented players with Titans-esque traits fall a little further down the board than expected. Potential starters survive the board at positions of need. Mutually-beneficial trade opportunities present themselves. It all works out.
Here's The Tennessean's NFL mock-up of what a perfect Titans draft might look like and why.
It would hardly be a shock if Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese ― the top two edge defenders in the draft ― are off the board before the Titans' pick. In a perfect world for the Titans, Bailey falls to No. 4. Thus completes the Titans' defensive line overhaul, showcasing Bailey's speed and technique off the edge alongside the power and explosiveness of Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson II.
The Pittsburgh Steelers offer the Titans the No. 53 pick in the second round and the No. 76 pick in the third round to move up to No. 35. History repeats itself, as the Titans make a similar deal to the one they made in 2025 that landed them edge Oluwafemi Oladejo and safety Kevin Winston Jr.
Rutledge is a plug-and-play starter at right guard for the Titans. He was a team captain at both Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Tech. He's a high-character and highly-durable player who overcame potentially career-ending injuries after a scary car crash in 2023. Most importantly, he helps the Titans get nastier up front.
Think of Scott as a defensive version of what the Titans drafted in Cam Ward last year. Big energy. Incredibly instinctive and competitive. Multiple transfers in college that led to a breakout final season at Miami. Scott plays nickel corner like an extra linebacker, and he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Awesome fit in Robert Saleh's defense.
Fields is the kind of big-bodied possession receiver the Titans coveted in a past era. He can use his 6-foot-4 frame to thrive on the perimeter and in the red zone. Fields gives Ward his most physical target to rely on.
If the Titans are going to have to lean on rookie starters at center and right guard in 2026, at least Rutledge and Jones are experienced, confident, physical grinders. Even if you didn't know where Jones went to college, you'd be able to deduce his powerhouse Iowa pedigree pretty easy by the way he carries himself.
There's a lot to like about Bowry, another high-character former college captain who has impressive athletic traits. He's played both tackle spots and profiles as a swing option as a rookie, but if he achieves his potential he could be a starter for the Titans in a year or two.
Payne represents more safety depth and works as a good replacement option for Winston if needed. He's 6-foot-3 with an 80-inch wingspan, remarkable length for a back-end player. And he has 52 games of power college experience under his belt.
Think of Curry as a Day 3 version of the prospect Rueben Bain Jr., is in the first round. He's an undersized high-motor edge defender capable of bumping inside who was incredibly productive for a College Football Playoff team in 2025. With the Titans, he can apprentice under Franklin-Myers and make a difference as a kick and punt blocker, one of his strengths.
Even more DB depth. Wright has a frame that will let him play boundary, field and nickel corner. He's aggressive, and he has a degree from Stanford. Saleh's love for DBs nets the Titans three developmental prospects to grow alongside each other like Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor and Gunnar Helm did last season as offensive pass catchers.
Speaking of pass catchers, the draft ends with a track speedster from Pearl-Cohn High in Nashville. Brown is a little redundant to Dike, but he stretches the field like few in the class can. Local kid makes good, and the Titans get an explosive speed threat.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Consider this best-case scenario for Tennessee Titans in 2026 NFL Draft
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At this point in the draft process, everyone knows the deal. The Titans have major needs at edge defender, wide receiver and interior offensive line and could stand to improve at running back, tight end, swing tackle and defensive back. After back-to-back 3-14 seasons and two coaching changes in three years, the Titans are searching for stability, and GM Mike Borgonzi has a history of favoring durable, high-character draft prospects who'll assimilate quickly into locker room culture.
So here's a world where everything goes as planned for the Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft. Talented players with Titans-esque traits fall a little further down the board than expected. Potential starters survive the board at positions of need. Mutually-beneficial trade opportunities present themselves. It all works out.
Here's The Tennessean's NFL mock-up of what a perfect Titans draft might look like and why.
Best-case scenario Tennessee Titans mock draft for 2026 NFL Draft
Round 1, pick 4: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
It would hardly be a shock if Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese ― the top two edge defenders in the draft ― are off the board before the Titans' pick. In a perfect world for the Titans, Bailey falls to No. 4. Thus completes the Titans' defensive line overhaul, showcasing Bailey's speed and technique off the edge alongside the power and explosiveness of Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson II.
NFL Draft trade: Titans make deal with Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers offer the Titans the No. 53 pick in the second round and the No. 76 pick in the third round to move up to No. 35. History repeats itself, as the Titans make a similar deal to the one they made in 2025 that landed them edge Oluwafemi Oladejo and safety Kevin Winston Jr.
Round 2, pick 53: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
Rutledge is a plug-and-play starter at right guard for the Titans. He was a team captain at both Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Tech. He's a high-character and highly-durable player who overcame potentially career-ending injuries after a scary car crash in 2023. Most importantly, he helps the Titans get nastier up front.
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Round 3, pick 66: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
Think of Scott as a defensive version of what the Titans drafted in Cam Ward last year. Big energy. Incredibly instinctive and competitive. Multiple transfers in college that led to a breakout final season at Miami. Scott plays nickel corner like an extra linebacker, and he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Awesome fit in Robert Saleh's defense.
Round 3, pick 76: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Fields is the kind of big-bodied possession receiver the Titans coveted in a past era. He can use his 6-foot-4 frame to thrive on the perimeter and in the red zone. Fields gives Ward his most physical target to rely on.
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Round 4, pick 101: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
If the Titans are going to have to lean on rookie starters at center and right guard in 2026, at least Rutledge and Jones are experienced, confident, physical grinders. Even if you didn't know where Jones went to college, you'd be able to deduce his powerhouse Iowa pedigree pretty easy by the way he carries himself.
Round 5, pick 142: Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
There's a lot to like about Bowry, another high-character former college captain who has impressive athletic traits. He's played both tackle spots and profiles as a swing option as a rookie, but if he achieves his potential he could be a starter for the Titans in a year or two.
Round 5, pick 144: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
Payne represents more safety depth and works as a good replacement option for Winston if needed. He's 6-foot-3 with an 80-inch wingspan, remarkable length for a back-end player. And he has 52 games of power college experience under his belt.
Round 6, pick 184: Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio State
Think of Curry as a Day 3 version of the prospect Rueben Bain Jr., is in the first round. He's an undersized high-motor edge defender capable of bumping inside who was incredibly productive for a College Football Playoff team in 2025. With the Titans, he can apprentice under Franklin-Myers and make a difference as a kick and punt blocker, one of his strengths.
Round 6, pick 194: Collin Wright, CB, Stanford
Even more DB depth. Wright has a frame that will let him play boundary, field and nickel corner. He's aggressive, and he has a degree from Stanford. Saleh's love for DBs nets the Titans three developmental prospects to grow alongside each other like Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor and Gunnar Helm did last season as offensive pass catchers.
Round 7, pick 225: Barion Brown, WR, LSU
Speaking of pass catchers, the draft ends with a track speedster from Pearl-Cohn High in Nashville. Brown is a little redundant to Dike, but he stretches the field like few in the class can. Local kid makes good, and the Titans get an explosive speed threat.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Consider this best-case scenario for Tennessee Titans in 2026 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
