Feb. 13, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ET

With the NFL Scouting Combine a little over a week away, outlets are going fast and furious in releasing their post-Super Bowl, pre-combine mock drafts, and many of them are zeroing in on one of the Tennessee Titans‘ most significant needs. 

The Titans have significant holes on their roster, especially at cornerback and edge, and while they will likely address those positions in free agency, they will still likely look to add a young playmaker in the first round in one of those areas. That’s exactly what Garrett Podell of CBS Sports believes the team will do in his post-Super Bowl mock draft. 

Round 1 – Pick 4 – Tennessee Titans

David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech – Sr – 6’3″ / 250 lbs

Bailey is the most explosive player who was a full-time edge rusher in college in this 2026 draft class, and he maximized that explosion by leading the nation with 14.5 sacks. He thrives with elite timing off the snap and winning early with his signature rip move to get low to the ground and arrive at the quarterback. He also has an incredibly fun spin move to the inside. Creating more push once inside the pocket and holding the point of attack in the run game are places to improve. This pick gives new Titans coach Robert Saleh and All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons a high-end edge rusher to mold.

While Bailey being the pick wasn’t much of a shock, with him and Reuben Bain penciled into the selection in multiple mock drafts in that spot, the surprise was that Podell had him coming off the board five picks ahead of Bain. This projection matches some of the other draft analysts who have stated that Bailey is a perfect fit for Robert Saleh’s system. 

Bailey is an explosive edge player who can get to the quarterback and make an impact. Most importantly, he comes to a position that has been devoid of talent and needs a massive upgrade in 2026. 

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.