2026 NFL Draft Grades: Tennessee Titans

The Titans fired their head coach in the middle of Cam Ward's rookie season, hired Robert Saleh as the new one, brought in Brian Daboll to run the offense and then spent a ton of money in free agency to try to right this ship. This had to be the Project Get Ward Help draft for Tennessee.

Ward finished last in QBR among qualified passers in Year 1 (33.2), and while he made some throws that reminded everyone why he was the No. 1 pick in 2025, he was sub-60% in completion rate and threw seven INTs. Where were the playmakers, though? Chig Okonkwo led the team with 560 yards and signed in Washington. Calvin Ridley played only seven games and caught 17 passes. The top two wide receivers were Day 3 rookies, Elic Ayomanor (515 yards) and Chimere Dike (423). While I like the idea of a young quarterback growing with young receivers, Tennessee needed a higher-caliber pass catcher. And while Wan'Dale Robinson is a speedy difference-maker out of the slot, he isn't a WR1.

Tate is. He's a polished route runner who displays fantastic body control and sure hands down the field, helping him to 17.2 yards per reception and nine touchdowns in 2025. He slots in as an immediate impact player. There was a good case to be made that Arvell Reese should have been the pick at No. 4, but I'm not going to knock general manager Mike Borgonzi for prioritizing getting Ward support. Nicholas Singleton is another piece in that effort; the fifth-round pick came at decent value and brings a nose for the end zone (45 career touchdowns). He will slide in somewhere with Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Michael Carter.

Tennessee went to work on defense quickly from there. It traded up to No. 31, essentially moving back from the fourth to the fifth round to jump four spots to get Keldric Faulk. There are questions about Faulk's production (two sacks last year after seven in 2024), but there aren't any about his physical traits. I'm putting some stock in Saleh being able to maximize Faulk's power and 6-foot-6, 276-pound frame. And Anthony Hill Jr. can serve as a backup linebacker and maybe even push to start ahead of Cody Barton.

The Titans also landed a backup guard in Fernando Carmona and another option at center in Pat Coogan, but this class didn't pack much punch beyond Tate. If Faulk can turn up the sack totals as a rookie, then this grade would improve, but that's a big if right now.

First-round WR Carnell Tate and DE Keldric Faulk should play big snaps starting in Week 1. Second-round LB Anthony Hill might just make a push for Defensive Rookie of the Year given the way players at his position — to say nothing of Hill's inherent ability — tend to thrive in HC Robert Saleh's scheme. Yet second-year GM Mike Borgonzi's selection of Tate at No. 4 was telling. He projects as a very good player, probably the cleanest wideout prospect in this draft. He's not Calvin Johnson ... and maybe not even perennial Pro Bowl material. But picking him is a clear indication that the priority here was helping second-year QB Cam Ward, which Tate should absolutely do, and not giving Saleh more defensive shock troops off the top. Yet Titans fans will be left wondering for some time whether Borgonzi should have figured out a way to deal up one spot for Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, who went No. 3 to Arizona ... where he seems miscast at present.

Best Pick: Second-round linebacker Anthony Hill will be a perfect Robert Saleh linebacker with his ability to run.

Worst Pick: I didn't like the trade back into the first round to take EDGE Keldric Faulk from Auburn. He has the traits, but the production wasn't there. Boom-or-bust pick.

The Skinny: First-round receiver Carnell Tate will be a good pro, but I don't know if he will ever be great. Taking a receiver at No. 4 means he has to be great. Faulk has talent, but needs to show it more. This draft was just OK for me.

Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi made a titanic decision at No. 4 overall to give Cam Ward the No. 1 target needed to take his game to the next level, choosing offense over higher-rated defenders.

I won't quibble with this decision because I am a big fan of Tate's game and love how the Titans bounced back with their next two picks to add two future front-seven standouts in Keldric Faulk and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. — each of whom I like in Robert Saleh's scheme.

I thought Tennessee also received good value on Day 3 with underrated blockers Fernando Carmono and center Pat Coogan, as well as a proven workhorse back in Nicholas Singleton.

After a flashy free agency, the Titans had what I would call an underwhelming draft considering where their capital stood.

Cam Ward needs help and Carnell Tate will accomplish that, but I'd be surprised if he becomes a game-changing number one wide receiver. They were comfortable using the fourth overall pick on him, which feels like trying to hit a single at a spot where it's time to swing big.

Keldric Faulk is very strong against the run with his big frame, but I'm skeptical he will ever develop into a consistent pass rusher. I thought Robert Saleh would want more explosiveness, twitch and speed in this group after getting more power by reuniting with John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson.

Day three really lacked value in my eyes. Nick Singleton's explosiveness and ability to pass protect might get him on the field in a third down role. I liked Jackie Marshall's pass rush film from 2024, but he regressed in 2025.

Here's why: This feels like a true foundational draft for the next era of the Titans. Carnell Tate going fourth overall felt a little rich, but now that the final haul of players is in, that pick feels like a necessary cherry on top for a strong class. Trading back into the first for Keldric Faulk and getting Anthony HIll Jr. at the end of the second round are two incredibly legit, high-upside projects for Robert Saleh to work with. They also got a nice little pick at center in the sixth round in Indiana's Pat Coogan. It's hard not to be excited after this haul; it could be the base of the team for a long time if players hit their development curves.

Most interesting pick: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn

Faulk falling to the end of the first round was baffling. He has the age profile that teams love and sets an incredibly high floor as a run defender. He doesn't have great pass rushing chops yet, but that was mostly due to his role in Auburn's defense as someone who had to eat blocks and squeeze space. He'll be attacking a lot more in his defense and with his natural balance and strength, he has the chance to develop into a devastating inside-out, versatile player, kind of like how the Seahawks used to use Michael Bennett. This was an ideal landing spot for Faulk and he already has a player to model himself after in John Franklin-Myers, even though he can be much better over the long term.

I liked what the Titans did in this draft. They kicked things off by taking a big-time pass catcher for Cam Ward in Carnell Tate, my top-ranked receiver thanks to his automatic hands and field-tilting talent. Tate should provide a much-needed boost for Ward right away. Trading back into the first round and grabbing Keldric Faulk could also pay big dividends down the line, particularly if Faulk can unlock some of his pass rushing potential. I really loved linebacker Anthony Hill's tape as well; he's rangy, aggressive, creates turnovers, and has a knack for punching the ball out of a running back's hands. And spending a fifth-rounder on an explosive back like Nicholas Singleton is smart. The former Penn State star can create big plays in both the running and passing game, adding a complementary piece behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. Overall, a solid draft haul for second-year GM Mike Borgonzi.

Analysis: Tennessee was busier than anybody in free agency and kept rolling in the draft. After taking Tate to give second-year quarterback Cam Ward an elite perimeter talent, general manager Mike Borgonzi traded back into the first round and selected the 21-year-old Faulk to play alongside Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers. Tate is a stud, having caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. In the second round, Hill is a terrific fit in coach Robert Saleh's defense, giving Tennessee an early starter at the second level.