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The problem in a nutshell is the best players don't play the best positions.
General manager Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans are a week away from the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins on April 23 at 7 p.m. CT. Borgonzi's in control of the fourth pick, where the Titans could use their premium draft capital to fill any of their premium needs, most notably at No. 1 edge rusher and No. 1 wide receiver.
The problem, of course, is that most of the rumors and prognostications point toward top edge rushers Arvell Reese and David Bailey being off the board before the Titans pick, and the scouting consensus points to a running back, an inside linebacker and a safety being the next three best players available.
"You can make mistakes if you’re trying to force a need to take a player that’s a lesser value. So I think we always go back to take the best player," Borgonzi told reporters on April 16. "You never know what’s going to happen this year or next year — just because we have a need this year — on how we can acquire players. Obviously draft and free agency are a big part of it, but there are certainly other avenues to acquire players. So you never want to make a rash decision and just force a need for a player on draft night.
"I think that’s really why we always talk about taking the best player available. Everybody rolls their eyes, but I think that’s important."
So here's what Borgonzi had to say about the likeliest candidates. On Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back who's been closely connected to the Titans since the NFL combine, Borgonzi used the adjective "special." He singled out Love's speed and his knack for making plays in the passing game.
On Sonny Styles, the record-breaking athlete and inside linebacker prospect from Ohio State, Borgonzi said there's really no comparison for what Styles can do physically. Borgonzi also made the connection between Titans coach Robert Saleh and the Pro Bowl inside linebackers he's coached and developed, most notably San Francisco All-Pro Fred Warner.
Borgonzi even gave some love to Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who hasn't been connected to the Titans nearly as often as Love or Styles but who Borgonzi said he counts among the top prospects in the class.
No GM will ever come out for a pre-draft press conference and limit his options. There would never have been a world where Borgonzi betrayed his plans by crossing prospects off the board a week before the draft. Every comment this time of year comes with a layer of subterfuge, and Borgonzi admitted as much mid-press conference.
That said, the message Borgonzi repeated the most often seemed to ring the truest, or at least the closest to true.
"I certainly think there’s a cluster of players up there that we really like," Borgonzi said when asked about Love.
"I think we’re going to remain flexible where we’re at because I think there’s a handful of players we really like at four," Borgonzi repeated when asked about trade back opportunities.
"Certainly I think that we're going to have options there at four no matter what a team does in front of us," Borgonzi said when asked about predicting who'll be picked second and third.
To use Borgonzi's word, maybe that's a "smokescreen." There's no real way to tell this time of year. But Borgonzi has been convicted in this language across his two drafts leading the Titans. It's hardly a shock to hear him advocating for sticking to the board and picking the best player available, but it's consistent with his team-building philosophies.
If Reese or Bailey falls to the Titans and it's easy to triple up on a massive need, a premium position and a top-of-board player, that's exceptional. If not, Borgonzi's rationale for the Titans' decision becomes "we picked the best player on our board, position be darned."
Titans fans can spend a week mining Borgonzi's answers for clues. Why did he mention the edge rushers in the question about Love, but not Styles? Why did he mention Downs answering the question about non-premium stars but not Love? Does he really believe there are multiple top-notch receivers worthy of early first round selection? Does he really mean it when he says you have to take offensive tackles any time you can, regardless of need?
It's all dissectible. That's what this time of year ends up being for.
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: Are Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles 'premium' enough for Titans? GM discusses
Continue reading...
General manager Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans are a week away from the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins on April 23 at 7 p.m. CT. Borgonzi's in control of the fourth pick, where the Titans could use their premium draft capital to fill any of their premium needs, most notably at No. 1 edge rusher and No. 1 wide receiver.
The problem, of course, is that most of the rumors and prognostications point toward top edge rushers Arvell Reese and David Bailey being off the board before the Titans pick, and the scouting consensus points to a running back, an inside linebacker and a safety being the next three best players available.
"You can make mistakes if you’re trying to force a need to take a player that’s a lesser value. So I think we always go back to take the best player," Borgonzi told reporters on April 16. "You never know what’s going to happen this year or next year — just because we have a need this year — on how we can acquire players. Obviously draft and free agency are a big part of it, but there are certainly other avenues to acquire players. So you never want to make a rash decision and just force a need for a player on draft night.
"I think that’s really why we always talk about taking the best player available. Everybody rolls their eyes, but I think that’s important."
So here's what Borgonzi had to say about the likeliest candidates. On Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back who's been closely connected to the Titans since the NFL combine, Borgonzi used the adjective "special." He singled out Love's speed and his knack for making plays in the passing game.
On Sonny Styles, the record-breaking athlete and inside linebacker prospect from Ohio State, Borgonzi said there's really no comparison for what Styles can do physically. Borgonzi also made the connection between Titans coach Robert Saleh and the Pro Bowl inside linebackers he's coached and developed, most notably San Francisco All-Pro Fred Warner.
Borgonzi even gave some love to Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who hasn't been connected to the Titans nearly as often as Love or Styles but who Borgonzi said he counts among the top prospects in the class.
No GM will ever come out for a pre-draft press conference and limit his options. There would never have been a world where Borgonzi betrayed his plans by crossing prospects off the board a week before the draft. Every comment this time of year comes with a layer of subterfuge, and Borgonzi admitted as much mid-press conference.
That said, the message Borgonzi repeated the most often seemed to ring the truest, or at least the closest to true.
"I certainly think there’s a cluster of players up there that we really like," Borgonzi said when asked about Love.
"I think we’re going to remain flexible where we’re at because I think there’s a handful of players we really like at four," Borgonzi repeated when asked about trade back opportunities.
"Certainly I think that we're going to have options there at four no matter what a team does in front of us," Borgonzi said when asked about predicting who'll be picked second and third.
To use Borgonzi's word, maybe that's a "smokescreen." There's no real way to tell this time of year. But Borgonzi has been convicted in this language across his two drafts leading the Titans. It's hardly a shock to hear him advocating for sticking to the board and picking the best player available, but it's consistent with his team-building philosophies.
If Reese or Bailey falls to the Titans and it's easy to triple up on a massive need, a premium position and a top-of-board player, that's exceptional. If not, Borgonzi's rationale for the Titans' decision becomes "we picked the best player on our board, position be darned."
Titans fans can spend a week mining Borgonzi's answers for clues. Why did he mention the edge rushers in the question about Love, but not Styles? Why did he mention Downs answering the question about non-premium stars but not Love? Does he really believe there are multiple top-notch receivers worthy of early first round selection? Does he really mean it when he says you have to take offensive tackles any time you can, regardless of need?
It's all dissectible. That's what this time of year ends up being for.
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: Are Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles 'premium' enough for Titans? GM discusses
Continue reading...
