General Manager Mike Borgonzi’s draft-day trade for Texas star Anthony Hill Jr. secures a versatile playmaker whose elite range and physical tools mirror All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.
The Tennessee Titans traded to get back into the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
They initially selected Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 in the first round. Then, Tennessee traded with the Buffalo Bills to take Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 31.
After that trade with the Bills, the Titans gave up their second-round pick. However, they traded with the Chicago Bears to get the No. 60 pick and take Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
Hill has a similar build to that of linebacker prospect Sonny Styles. Styles was available when the Titans made the No. 4 pick, but General Manager Mike Borgonzi stuck to his strategy of taking the best player available, going with Tate instead.
The two had similar NFL Combine results. Styles ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, with a 43.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-2 broad jump. Hill ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, with a 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump.
There's no doubt that Tate was the best player available at the time. He has the chance to compete for a top receiver spot with the Titans due to his elite route tree and expertise as a deep threat.
Jeremiyah Love went off the board just before the Titans made their pick, being selected at No. 3 by the Arizona Cardinals.
With Hill, he fits what head coach Robert Saleh is looking for in a middle linebacker. Hill has a build that closely resembles San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, whom Saleh has worked with on two separate occasions at the 49ers as defensive coordinator.
ESPN's Matt Bowen featured Hill among the best picks of the second round. Here's what he had to say on the matter.
"Hill's range and speed fit as a stack linebacker in new coach Robert Saleh's defense," Bowen said. "In addition to his ability to track the ball on the perimeter and strike blockers, Hill can impact coverage and pressure schemes. Look for him to match inside seams or roam the underneath zones in pass coverage. Hill can also create ball production under Saleh, finishing with eight forced fumbles and three interceptions in college. In Saleh's overload fronts, Hill can attack the interior gaps and edges through stunts. He had 17 career sacks at Texas."
Hill spent plenty of time at linebacker with the Longhorns. He played in 40 games with 32 starts. Hill was a finalist for the Butkus Award and a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award.
He recorded 249 total tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 17 sacks and three interceptions at Texas.
The rookie was even predicted to compete for the starting middle linebacker position and beat out Cody Barton.
Time will tell if Hill can mesh with what Saleh wants to do on defense, but the connections are already there.