Mel Kiper weighs in on the Titans' draft strategy, evaluating their picks like Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk, and assigns a C+ grade.
The Tennessee Titans just wrapped up their first draft of the Robert Saleh era on Saturday night.
Tennessee took Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate, Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., Arkansas guard Fernando Carmona, Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton, Baylor defensive tackle Jackie Marshall, Indiana center Pat Coogan and Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak.
Titans fans were anxious heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, and rightfully so. They knew they had a shot at Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. It would all depend on what the Arizona Cardinals did at No. 3.
Despite having needs for an edge rusher and the offensive line, the Cardinals went with Love, and the Titans drafted Tate.
The move was scrutinized, but Tate has a chance to be a No. 1 WR in the NFL due to his route-running ability and deep-threat traits.
Then, the Titans traded back into the first round to take Faulk, a versatile player that Saleh can put at different positions and try to get 1-on-1 matchups on the defensive line.
Hill isn't Sonny Styles, but he's pretty close. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, with a 37-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. Hill will be a good candidate to play middle linebacker for Saleh.
Carmona adds depth at the interior offensive line, while Singleton could be a steal in the draft if his game translates to the NFL after becoming the all-time career scorer at Penn State with 55 touchdowns.
Marshall is a player who has played multiple positions on defense, which could benefit him in the NFL. Coogan is an experienced center the Titans could turn to in the future, and Kanak is a very athletic tight end who ran the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash (4.52) at the NFL Combine this offseason.
ESPN's Mel Kiper took a gander at the Titans' draft class and released a grade. He gave the Titans a C+, using the potential of the draft picks the franchise made as the reason he was hesitant to give them a higher grade.
"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," Kiper said. "This had to be the Project Get Ward Help draft for Tennessee."
Aside from the draft, the Titans invested heavily in free agency. The team had Cam Ward in mind with many of its moves.
Offensively, Wan'Dale Robinson, Austin Schlottmann, Daniel Bellinger and Cordell Volson were the biggest additions.
John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott were the biggest defensive acquisitions.
We'll have to see how these new additions do on the field, but it's clear that the Titans are a much-improved team compared to 2025.