Featured Image: Auburn Tigers offensive lineman Connor Lew blocks against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Oct. 25, 2025 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Photo Credit/Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports)
The NFL draft is now less than a month away, and teams are beginning to hone in on who they want to draft. The Titans have a lot of expectations to be competitive when their new stadium opens in 2027, and this draft, along with the improvement of the 2026 class, will be integral to the performance of the team in the new stadium.
I believe every mock needs some context along with each pick, but I believe a general context is necessary as well.
First off, this draft was made using the consensus board from multiple different websites to mitigate as much website bias as possible.
In this case, David Bailey and Arvell Reese were both taken before the Titans’ pick at No. 4.
Round 1, Pick 4: Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Tate has hit the point of consensus receiver one when it comes to this year’s wide receiver class, and it isn’t hard to see why. Tate brings the typical size (6’2, 192) and speed (4.53) you come to expect from NFL receivers, along with some of the best ball tracking and hands we’ve seen coming out of college.
Tate provides a big, reliable target for Cam Ward in year two and gives a Brian Daboll-offense the deep threat that is integral to his system. This season, Tate caught 51 balls for 875 yards and nine touchdowns while sharing the field with Jeremiah Smith, who will likely be a top five pick in the 2027 draft. Some might hold this against him, but we’ve seen other examples of top receivers sharing the field with insane prospects and how little that reduces their value. Justin Jefferson and Emeka Egbuka were both considered the wide receiver two on their college teams before taking over in the league.
Tate steps into an immediate wide receiver one role and will immediately be a big play-threat in the Titans offense in 2026.
Round 2, Pick 35: Zion Young, Outside Linebacker, Missouri
It becomes increasingly obvious that Robert Saleh is bringing his measurement bias to the Titans. That became obvious with Daniel Jeremiah recently claiming the Titans were out on Rueben Bain, who measured in with historically short arms for a top pick. This, combined with continued reports that the Titans love the longer and more athletic David Bailey, seems to align with head coach Robert Saleh’s history of drafting athletic and long players to rush the passer.
Young fits into that mold at 6’6” and 262 pounds. Young likely won’t be a 10 or more sack player in the league, but he projects to be a good run stopper with the ability to consistently get after the passer with a strong motor and play strength. If the Titans want to get bigger and stronger, then Zion Young is the perfect candidate.
Round 3, Pick 66: Connor Lew, Center, Auburn
The Titans opted to cut starting center Lloyd Cushenberry over the offseason and move on from staple backup Corey Levin. This left a massive hole in an offensive line that just started to figure things out near the end of last season.
Lew won’t be an immediate fix, as he tore his ACL late in the season in 2025, but he could be a long-term starting center in the third round similar to the pick of Kevin Winston Jr. in the Titans’ last draft class—a player who everyone agreed was great before an injury ended his season. Lew likely is a second round-pick without his injury, so the Titans get a deal here as long as they trust in his recovery. In the meantime, the Titans will run with former Giants center Austin Schlottmann.
Lew provides a strong, young and intelligent centerpiece to the offensive line, as long as the Titans can be patient.
Round 4, Pick 101: Tacario Davis, Corner, Washington
Saleh has always preferred longer corners, and Davis is as long as they come at 6’4. Davis is depth that the Titans can hope to develop.
Round 5, Pick 142: Seth McGowan, Running back, Kentucky
A powerback is integral to the Daboll offense—just look at Cam Skattebo with the Giants last year. McGowan can be the bowling ball that the Titans need.
Round 5, Pick 144: De’Zhaun Stribling, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Stribling is a much rawer prospect, but comes with elite physical traits for the team to develop.
Round 6, 184: Markel Bell, Offensive Tackle, Miami
Bell has experience playing with Cam Ward along with an insanely large frame to put in the way of defenders. He won’t be expected to be a starter, but he’s a good enough athlete to, hopefully, not get Ward killed if a starter goes down.
Round 6, Pick 194: Tim Keenan III, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
It’s hard to go wrong with a strong run-stopping defensive tackle. As good as the T’Vondre Sweat trade was, he leaves a massive gap as a run stopper. Keenan can come in and be a fourth DT that is good against the run.
Round 7, Pick 225: Will Kacmarek, Tight End, Ohio State
The league continues to prove that tight ends who can block are valuable. Gunnar Helm is set to dominate the receiving tight end spot, but Kacmarek can step in and upgrade an underrated part of the run game.
