With the No. 225 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans used their seventh-round pick to select TE Jaren Kanak out of Oklahoma.
Kanak was a third-team All-SEC honoree in 2025, his first season as a full-time tight end after moving over from linebacker.
The Titans came into the draft with major needs at edge defender, wide receiver, guard, center and defensive back, as well as opportunities to improve at running back, tight end, offensive tackle and interior defensive line. In their first offseason under the supervision of coach Robert Saleh, the Titans went on a free agent spending spree, bringing in anticipated starters like DL John Franklin-Myers, WR Wan’Dale Robinson and CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott.
With their two first-round picks on April 23, the Titans selected WR Carnell Tate and DL Keldric Faulk. The Titans traded back into the first round to acquire Faulk, and then traded again to get back into the second round and select LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The Titans entered Day 3 with five more picks to make. They select OL Fernando Carmona and RB Nicholas Singleton in the fifth round.
Carnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Coach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Edge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.2 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.3 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCoach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.4 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkEdge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.5 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.6 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.7 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Who is Jaren Kanak? What Titans are getting in NFL draft seventh round pickKanak caught 44 passes for 533 yards in his lone season as a tight end in 2025. Prior to that he was an intermittent contributor as an Oklahoma linebacker, starting 10 games across three seasons with 103 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. He had a career year in 2023, making 62 tackles across nine starts with six TFLs.
Kanak's experience playing defense and his versatility makes him an interesting candidate as a special teams contributor who can make tackles on coverage teams without having to be taught the fundamentals. He's also an interesting athlete; he's only 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, but he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the NFL combine and he vertical leapt 36 inches.
Kanak also played wide reciever and quarterback in high school and showed off his arm by completing a pass on a two-point conversion in 2025.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans pick TE Jaren Kanak in NFL draft 7th round. What Titans are getting