Forget edge rushers. One mock draft suggests a shocking No. 4 pick that would ignite fan fury and ignore critical team needs.
The Tennessee Titans are just about a week away from the 2026 NFL Draft.
It's going to be an interesting draft for the Titans, especially considering how many different ways the team could go with the No. 4 overall pick.
Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey, Sonny Styles and Jeremiyah Love all seem like viable options for the pick, as each would address a big need that the Titans have.
Edge rusher is a major need given the lack of starting-quality players opposite Jermaine Johnson. Femi Oladejo and Jacob Martin seem like the most likely players to start, but an upgrade from them would make a big difference.
Styles would make sense due to Robert Saleh's familiarity with Fred Warner at the San Francisco 49ers. He would give the Titans a fast and physical inside linebacker who is similar to what Warner does for the 49ers.
I think fans would be happy as long as whoever they pick at No. 4 makes sense, and isn't another Isaiah Wilson situation from the Jon Robinson era.
I found a recent mock draft that, if it happened, would definitely trigger Titans fans to riot.
Fox Sports' Rob Rang did that mock draft. It was a first-round mock draft featuring the perfect pick for every NFL team.
Who did the Titans get in the mock draft, you may ask? Penn State interior offensive lineman Vega Ioane.
Ioane primarily played left for Penn State throughout his college career. He started 27 games for the Nittany Lions over the last two seasons.
The Titans' status as a small-market team played a role in this. Rang said the interior offensive line was the Titans' biggest need, despite edge rusher being way more important for this team.
I outlined the remaining needs for the Titans after the first wave of free agency. Don't get me wrong, I mentioned interior offensive line among those needs, but to say that it's the most important need and Tennessee should use the No. 4 overall pick on it is ludicrous.
Compared to other needs of edge rusher, receiver, linebacker, and cornerback, the interior offensive line is very low on the totem pole in terms of importance.
Take a look at the offseason moves that the Titans made on the offensive line, for example.
The Titans released Lloyd Cushenberry earlier in the offseason, and right guard Kevin Zeitler departed the team in free agency. Tennessee brought in Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson.
Schlottmann is going to compete for the starting center job, and Volson is expected to do the same for right guard. Tennessee already has Peter Skoronski lining up at left guard, so there is no need for Volson to contend for that spot.
The only reason the Titans need to take an IOL at this point is for depth, and that could easily be found in the later rounds of the draft, not with the No. 4 overall pick.
Jackson Slater, Garrett Dellinger and Clay Webb are the reserve IOLs for the Titans as it stands. The starters are somewhat in position, given that Volson can win the job over Slater at right guard.
I'd be happy if the Titans even went with a receiver like Carnell Tate over Ioane. Nothing against Ioane, I'm sure he can be a great NFL player in the right situation. Tennessee has no legitimate reason to take him that high.
Love, Styles, Bain, Bailey and Tate could all be available for the Titans to pick at No. 4 overall. It'll just come down to who General Manager Mike Borgonzi considers the best player available.
That would go out the window if the Titans take Ioane instead, and would drive fans insane.