The NFL season is drawing to a close, and the offseason is on the horizon. At this point, many fans have already turned their attention to 2026 and milestones like free agency and the NFL draft. 

For fans of the Tennessee Titans, it’s a mixed bag. While some are holding out for the team to catch fire and build late-season momentum, others are focused solely on the offseason, specifically the NFL draft. 

This will be a pivotal offseason for the front office and the franchise rebuild. Not only will they have to land a head coach capable of turning the Titans into consistent contenders, but they will also have to retool the roster and make significant changes. 

Currently, the Titans hold the fifth pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and many would like to see them move up the draft board before the end of the season. For those who believe that draft position is more important than momentum, here is a Week 17 rooting guide for the Titans’ best draft position. 

Both the Titans and Saints have played better football in recent weeks and are building momentum. The Saints will come to Nissan Stadium with a 5-10 record and have won three games in a row. This should be a good game, and one the Titans could pull out. But with the NFL draft in mind, a loss is a necessity. 

The Commanders enter the week with a 4-11 record, sitting directly behind the Titans. But Tennessee would lose the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker if the two teams finished with the same record. With Tennessee playing better football in recent weeks, it is a scenario to keep an eye on. 

The Cardinals enter the weekend at 3-12 like the Titans, but have a slightly higher strength of schedule. A Cardinals win would drop them out of the pack of three-win teams and help at least solidify Tennessee inside the Top 5. 

The Browns sit ahead of the Titans and currently hold the third pick in the NFL draft if the season ended today. A victory over the Steelers would not only help Tennessee but also hurt the Steelers’ playoff chances. AFC North battles are always challenging and can be unpredictable, making this one a game to watch.

New York Jets over New England Patriots

The Jets currently hold the fourth pick in the draft and have been struggling. But they catch the Patriots coming off a huge win, and could pull the upset. More importantly, the Jets need a quarterback, and staying ahead of Tennessee in the draft order could still pay dividends. 

The two teams currently hold the top two picks and enter the weekend with identical 2-13 records. While a win by the Raiders this week will not catapult the Titans ahead of them in the draft order, a look ahead at their Week 18 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs could allow them to stack some wins at the end of the season and possibly save Pete Carroll’s job, and enable Tennessee to jump them in the draft.Â