The Titans missed their top running back target. Discover the explosive playmaker they landed late who reminds GM Mike Borgonzi of Isiah Pacheco.
It seemed like the Tennessee Titans were going to be picking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 4.
Indiana quarterback and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza going to the Las Vegas Raiders was a lock for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The New York Jets didn't need a running back after franchise tagging Breece Hall.
Then, there was the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals had needs along the offensive line and for another quarterback, with Jacoby Brissett expected to be the starter until further notice. They could've used a running back after how disappointing the rushing attack was last season.
Arizona had the second-worst rushing attack, averaging 93.1 rushing yards per game. For reference, they were worse than the Titans, who ranked third-fewest with 93.5 rushing yards per game.
Michael Carter was the Cardinals' leading rusher last season, and he still wasn't very promising. Carter led the way with 333 rushing yards and was followed by Emari Demarcado (312) and Zonovan Knight (269).
Arizona signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, but he hasn't been a starting running back since 2022, before the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson. Then, there's James Conner, who hasn't even played a full season since he entered the NFL in 2017.
With a move that broke a lot of Titans fans' hearts here in the Music City, the Cardinals selected Love at No. 3 overall.
The Titans pivoted and took the next best offensive prospect on the board in Carnell Tate at No. 4. It wasn't the pick fans thought was going to be made, with Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles still available, but Tate has the skillset to become a No. 1 WR in this league.
After missing out on what many people considered to be the best offensive prospect in the draft with Love, the Titans didn't take a running back until the fifth round.
Tennessee had two fifth-round picks and selected Arkansas guard Fernando Carmona and Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton.
Personally, while Love has all the traits you look for in a running back and then some, I think Singleton could be a good alternative for the Titans.
General Manager Mike Borgonzi said it himself that Singleton reminds him a lot of former Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco.
That kind of explosive playmaker at running back could be a great addition for the Titans.
Singleton fell to the fifth round of the draft, but it wasn't because his stats didn't live up to expectations.
He ended his time at Penn State as the program's all-time leading touchdown scorer with 55. Singleton is also the Nittany Lions' fourth all-time leading career rusher (3,461), behind only Saquon Barkley (3,843), Evan Royster (3,932) and his teammate Kaytron Allen (4,180).
After all the success he had in college, why did a player like Singleton fall to the fifth round?
He revealed in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Paul White that months before the draft, he broke a bone in his foot during Senior Bowl practice. He wasn't able to attend the NFL Scouting Combine or Penn State's Pro Day.
The injury could've definitely caused him to fall down teams' draft boards, but luckily, the Titans were able to get him. If he's the same player he was in college, Borgonzi may have found a late-round steal.
The other question regarding Singleton is where he will fit into the Titans' backfield. Tennessee currently has Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Carter, Singleton, Blake Watson, Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut.
Now, obviously, not all of these running backs will be on the 53-man roster later this year. I think if Singleton can get back to 100%, there's no question he could compete for a spot in the Titans rotation with Pollard and Spears.
His main competition would most likely be Carter, who was just with the Cardinals, and perhaps Chestnut as well, for the third spot in the running back room.
However, with Spears' injury history, there's a chance he could maybe even be the No. 2 running back for the Titans.
Singleton's explosiveness, paired with Spears and Pollard, could be a lethal weapon on offense. He's definitely a player I wouldn't want to take my eyes off of in 2026.