The Titans addressed wide receiver and edge rusher in Round 1, but with limited draft capital on Day 2, upgrading the interior offensive line to better protect Cam Ward stands out as the team’s most pressing need.
The Tennessee Titans received mixed reviews for their selections in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the fourth overall pick, Tennessee passed on the opportunity to select Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and instead made a splash on the offensive side of the ball, taking his Buckeyes teammate, Carnell Tate.
The Titans clearly believed Tate was the best wide receiver in this draft class, and in an effort to provide Cam Ward with more weapons, they pulled the trigger on what they viewed as the best player available at a premium position—even if the general public saw it as a missed opportunity to land the speed rusher they’ve been lacking.
But the Titans weren’t done there.
They swung a late-night trade with the Buffalo Bills to get back into the first round and selected Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk with the 31st overall pick. He’s a young player with plenty of tools, but limited production as a pass rusher due to inconsistent technique.
Faulk is already a stout run defender, and the Titans are betting that he can develop into a premier pass rusher. However, making that move cost them valuable draft capital.
And while Tennessee still has seven picks remaining in this draft, they will pick just once between now and the 142nd overall selection. That lone pick comes at No. 69 overall, a third-round selection set to be made Friday night.
So where should the Titans go from here? What are the most pressing needs at this point in the draft?
If Tennessee only has one pick on Day 2, the answer feels fairly straightforward.
As things currently stand, the Titans could be looking at some combination of Austin Schlottman, Cordell Volson, and Jackson Slater—a fifth-round pick in 2025—starting at center and right guard next season. That’s a group that clearly presents an opportunity for an upgrade, especially if the goal is to put Cam Ward in the best possible position to succeed.
Fortunately for Tennessee, only two interior offensive linemen came off the board in the first round, which could create an opportunity to get a highly touted talent on Day 2.
Whether it’s a guard like Emmanuel Pregnon or a center such as Jake Slaughter, Sam Hecht, or Logan Jones, that’s where the focus should be for the Titans on Friday night.
However, it may take some creativity from the Titans front office to get the right player.