Defense or offense? The Titans' No. 4 pick pits a highly-touted running back against a potentially game-changing defensive talent.
We're just a few more weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Tennessee Titans have a big decision to make.
The Titans have the No. 4 pick, and there are many ways it could go. I wrote about just some of the scenarios that could take place in a previous article.
On the one hand, edge rusher is an important position, given the lack of experience from Femi Oladejo, who is projected to start alongside veteran Jermaine Johnson.
However, after General Manager Mike Borgonzi's recent comments, it sounds like Tennessee is eyeing Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Borgonzi revealed that the Titans' approach to the draft will be the best player available method, pointing right at Love.
Other players who have been mocked to the Titans include Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Sonny Styles. There isn't one clear way the Titans' pick could go.
The pick was discussed on a recent edition of ESPN's "NFL Live," with Mel Kiper and Marcus Spears chiming in.
Spears talked about how difficult the decision is and whether the Titans could go defense or offense in the first round. He mentioned that Styles could influence the Titans to go with him instead if he had traits similar to those of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
"I look at it from an organizational standpoint," Spears said. "I think you're gonna have two conflicting ideologies. Robert Saleh as the head coach, Fred Warner was a linebacker for him with a defense that was phenomenal and was literally a Super Bowl-caliber defense. If he sees that trait in Sonny Styles, does that take precedent over Jeremiyah Love being a running back, where you bring in a new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, and a young quarterback, and trying to get that side of the ball going?"
Spears further explained that the team may have to decide whether it wants its identity on offense or defense.
"The thing that throws me a little bit is that they spent a lot of money in free agency on defense," Spears said. "They believe that they bolstered this defensive line with John Franklin-Myers. Bringing over Jermaine Johnson from the New York Jets, who had experience with Robert Saleh. I think this is going to be one of those situations in the war room where you’re going to have to decide what the identity of the football team will be."
The Titans did improve their defense significantly in free agency. John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott were the three biggest additions. If the Titans go with defense instead of Love, it would contradict Borgonzi's assessment of their draft strategy.
Love seems like the easy pick, but what if Styles turns out to be a Fred Warner-like player for Saleh at the Titans? There are many options to weigh as the Titans prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.