April 3, 2026, 11:24 a.m. ET

The Tennessee Titans currently have nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including the No. 4 overall pick. With that first pick, we’ve seen NFL analysts predict mostly defensive players, but there have been mock drafts that suggest the Titans will select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The Titans, however, have been tight-lipped on what they plan to do with their first-round pick.

In a recent seven-round mock draft by CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, he suggests the Titans will draft Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 4 pick.

Robert Saleh adds more energy and twitch to the pass rush in the form of David Bailey. A Stanford transfer, he was one of the most improved prospects in college football this season. Jermaine Johnson II is more adept at setting the edge against the run and serves as a strong complementary piece to Bailey.

Of the candidates who have been mentioned with the Titans’ first-round pick, David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. have been the two most mentioned. Both are solid edge rushers coming off of great seasons, and both would be a welcome addition to the Titans’ defense.

The rest of the mock is as follows for the Titans:

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Round 2, pick 35: Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&MRound 3, pick 66: Treydan Stukes, CB, ArizonaRound 4, pick 101: Mike Washington Jr., RB, ArkansasRound 5, pick 142: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSURound 5, pick 144: Parker Brailsford, IOL, AlabamaRound 6, pick 184: Tanner Koziol, TE, HoustonRound 6, pick 194: Max Llewellyn, EDGE, IowaRound 7, pick 225: Deshon Singleton, S, Nebraska

Overall, this isn’t terrible. It would be surprising to see them select two interior offensive linemen, which is why that second fifth-round pick might be reserved for a tight end or wide receiver, with the first sixth-round pick flipping back to defense, specifically the secondary.

This mock definitely addresses some of the holes on the Titans’ roster, but splitting the picks 50-50 (roughly) between offense and defense feels … wrong. Realistically, the Titans need the most help on the defensive side of the ball. It’s where they lack the most depth right now, and Robert Saleh will want more bodies on that side of the ball. Perhaps we’ll see the Titans select three offensive players and the rest defense, but we won’t know their plans for about 20 days.