Titans shore up uncertain right guard spot with a top prospect in the 2026 NFL Mock Draft, eyeing future stability.
The Tennessee Titans had multiple needs on the offensive line heading into free agency.
The team released one of the free-agent signings from the Ran Carthon era in Lloyd Cushenberry, creating a need at center in 2026. Carthon also brought in Calvin Ridley, L'Jarius Sneed and Tony Pollard. Only Pollard and Ridley are still on the team.
Tennessee took care of the need at center, signing former New York Giants player Austin Schlottman to contend for the starting job.
One position on the offensive line that not a lot of people are talking about is at guard. Peter Skoronski will obviously reprise his role as the team's left guard, but there is uncertainty at right guard.
Kevin Zeitler left the team in free agency, with Cordell Volson expected to compete for the starting job at right guard with Jackson Slater under him. Volson has plenty of starting experience from his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, but his recent injury history is on everyone's mind.
From 2022-24, Volson started in 48 of his 50 games with the Bengals. Before the 2025 season, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during training camp. The Bengals released him after the 2025 season, and he landed with the Titans.
Suppose he's able to stay healthy for the Titans, great. There's also a chance that he has another injury similar to last year. This would leave Slater in position to start, who has only ever been a reserve lineman so far.
Luckily, ESPN's Field Yates offered a solution to the uncertainty surrounding Volson. At No. 4, he had the Titans picking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Then, in the second round, Tennessee selected Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge.
This move would not only add a depth piece, but someone who could potentially take over the position in the future, especially if Zeitler ends up re-signing with the Titans.
"If your goal is to get tougher in this draft, good luck finding a player who fits that bill better than Rutledge," Yates said. "The physical, grading guard personified what was a hard-nosed, relentless program at Georgia Tech. Tennessee needs to continue to fortify the offensive line, especially as guard Kevin Zeitler's plans for 2026 remain undecided."
Rutledge started his college career at MTSU in 2022. After playing in 22 with 17 starts at MTSU, he transferred to Georgia Tech in 2024 and became a First-Team All-American his first season with the team.
He followed up that season with another First-Team All-American selection in 2025. He has 26 games of starting experience at right guard.
Even if the Titans decide not to bring back Zeitler and have Volson and Rutledge compete for the starting right guard job, I think Titans fans would feel a lot better about the position.
Having Rutledge in the competition instead of Slater, who has never started an NFL game, is a much better alternative, and is a move the Titans should definitely consider in the 2026 NFL Draft.