Tennessee Titans NFL Mock Draft Roundup 4.0

After prioritizing defense in free agency, the Titans add a big-time playmaker in Love to bolster second-year quarterback Cam Ward's supporting cast.

The Titans don't have a glaring need at pass rush after trading for Jermaine Johnson and signing John Franklin-Myers. But new coach Robert Saleh shouldn't mind more help at linebacker behind Johnson, Franklin-Myers and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

Styles has put together about as good of a final season and predraft process as you could ask for. He dominated on the field in 2025, finishing with the third-highest tackle percentage in the FBS (97.5%). Then at the combine, he posted the highest vertical jump by an off-ball linebacker since 2003 (43½ inches) and ran the fastest 40 at his position (4.46). Styles is instinctive and long at 6-5, with the versatility to cover or blitz as a former safety.

If your goal is to get tougher in this draft, good luck finding a player who fits that bill better than Rutledge. The physical, grading guard personified what was a hard-nosed, relentless program at Georgia Tech. Tennessee needs to continue to fortify the offensive line, especially as guard Kevin Zeitler's plans for 2026 remain undecided.

They added some nice pieces to the defense in free agency, so this will give them a nice edge player to finalize their front four.

There's a lot of buzz about the Titans using this pick to take Jeremiyah Love after a defense-heavy free-agency period, but most of those signings are solid, complementary pieces. It's much more difficult to find a game-wrecking edge than it is a productive running back. The reigning Super Bowl MVP is a running back who just left his team. Yes, Cam Ward needs more skill around him, but the Titans can do that starting with the next pick (and preferably in the form of a pass catcher). Affecting the other quarterback is the move here. — Joe Rexrode

There's smoke with the Titans taking Jeremiyah Love, and the Titans still need more playmakers around Cam Ward even after splurging on Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency. I would rather have the rebuilding Titans continue to add to their trenches rather than a running back at this point in their process. Robert Saleh loves investing heavily into his defensive lines, and Bailey would give him a flamethrower to rush the passer and a different flavor than their current set of maulers. And there's the added benefit that the rest of the Titans' line will help insulate Bailey in the run game. Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, and Bailey is a lot of heat to throw at offenses when they try to throw the ball.

GM Mike Borgonzi wasn't shy about spending his huge quotient of cap space, importing what appears to be at least a half-dozen new starters. The new-look Titans even have ... a new (old?) look. But what's the best way to advance the development of QB Cam Ward, last year's No. 1 overall pick? How about giving him a player perhaps adjacent to Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs in terms of game-breaking ability and versatility? Love is an every-down back, one who's averaged 6.9 yards per carry and caught 55 passes over the past two seasons. The Titans could keep his usage in check as a rookie with RB Tony Pollard under contract for one more season. But pairing Love and Ward could potentially create an offense primed to surge ticket sales when the Titans move into their new stadium in 2027.

Tennessee addressed a lot of its defensive needs in free agency, which frees the team up to take my No. 2 player in the draft to help Cam Ward.

Here is where things get interesting. We haven't seen a running back go in the top four since Saquon Barkley (No. 2 in 2018), and the Titans certainly have a long list of issues -- even after aggressively spending in free agency last week. But Tennessee is committed to boosting the offense around second-year quarterback Cam Ward, and Love would take the run game to another level while also serving as a dynamic pass catcher. His game features 4.36 speed, excellent vision, run-you-over power and soft hands.

Love would be an immediate upgrade over Tony Pollard for new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

This is where things really get interesting. We've honed in on positional value come draft time over the past few years and how much we should value running backs, but we've seen Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs shine in the NFL after being taken early in the first round of the draft. That said, the Titans should be thrilled to pick Love. He should be a great fit in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense and a good piece to put next to quarterback Cam Ward. Love can run and catch the ball, just like the four running backs I mentioned. This would be the first running back selected in the top five in eight years, and Love is a home run.