New offensive line additions create uncertainty. Did the Titans adequately fill crucial interior spots after significant departures?
The smoke has cleared and the dust has settled on the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Tennessee Titans have now completed their first draft under head coach Robert Saleh. Tennessee made sure to give him some defensive rookies to work with.
All in all, the Titans picked eight players.
Carnell Tate was selected at No. 4 and has a chance to be a future No. 1 WR for the Titans, despite what New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers says.
Tennessee traded back into the first round for Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. The Titans then found a middle linebacker for Saleh's defense in Texas standout Anthony Hill Jr.
The remainder of the picks were Arkansas guard Fernando Carmona, Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton, Baylor defensive tackle Jackie Marshall, Indiana center Pat Coogan and Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak.
The Titans had a lot of needs entering the draft after a 3-14 season, but one question remains for ESPN's Turron Davenport.
Did the Titans do enough to address the interior of the offensive line this offseason?
"Releasing center Lloyd Cushenberry and not re-signing right guard Kevin Zeitler meant two new starting spots were up for grabs," Davenport said. "Veteran center Austin Schlottmann was signed to help, but he has never been a consistent starter. Second-year guard Jackson Slater and veteran free agent Cordell Volson will battle at right guard. The competition will be enhanced by Day 3 picks Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan, but someone needs to emerge to secure a spot."
The Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry and let right guard Kevin Zeitler walk in free agency. To replace him, they brought in former Giants center Austin Schlottmann and former Cincinnati Bengals guard Cordell Volson.
Before the draft, it seemed there would be an offseason position battle between Volson and Jackson Slater at right, with Schlottmann in a good spot to win the center job.
However, with Carmona and Coogan in place, we could have multiple position battles on our hands this offseason. Even General Manager Mike Borgonzi believes Carmona and Coogan can compete for starting jobs.
Schlottmann didn't have a ton of starting experience with the Giants. He started in four games but looked sound when he was on the field. He didn't allow any sacks and was flagged for three penalties, with three allowed quarterback hits.
Regardless, you would like to have more starts from him, which is why Coogan could definitely come in and challenge him for starting center.
Then with Volson, he does have a lot of starts under his belt. He started 48 games for the Bengals from 2022-24, but he missed all of last season with a serious injury.
Hopefully, he doesn't suffer another serious injury with the Titans, but if it does happen again, Carmona could be the next man up if he can beat out Slater, who has never started a game for the Titans.
Time will tell if interior offensive line was taken care of enough this offseason.