The 2026 NFL Draft is just a couple of days away, and with the No. 4 pick, the Tennessee Titans are at the center of more than their fair share of rumors.
The Titans are coming off a 3-14 season that saw the dismissal of coach Brian Callahan and the hiring of former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh to replace him. The draft, which is being held in Pittsburgh, begins April 23 at 7 p.m. CT, and the Titans hold eight other picks, from Rounds 2 through 7.
One year after selecting quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, there's a lot more mystery related to what the Titans will do, and what the teams picking ahead of them will leave on the board.
Throughout the draft process, they have been most frequently connected to three players: Ohio State edge defender Arvell Reese, Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. As the draft has drawn closer, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has joined that pack, especially as a consensus started to form about Reese and Bailey being the likely Nos. 2 and 3 picks, respectively. (Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely assumed to be the No. 1 pick.)
Construction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction workers work on the roof at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction continues in the space that will become the locker room at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction continues in the space that will become the locker room at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Exterior construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Burke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction is seen from the 300 level of the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Burke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction workers work on the roof at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the 300 level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Burke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the 300 level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction workers work at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction is seen from the 300 level of the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction workers work at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium, as the current Nissan Stadium is seen in the rear, in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.1 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.1 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.2 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction workers work on the roof at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.3 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.4 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues in the space that will become the locker room at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.5 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues in the space that will become the locker room at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.6 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamExterior construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.7 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.8 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamBurke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.9 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.10 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.11 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction is seen from the 300 level of the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.12 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction continues at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.13 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.14 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamBurke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.15 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the concourse level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.16 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction workers work on the roof at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.17 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the 300 level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.18 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamBurke Nihill, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Tennessee Titans, leads a tour of construction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.19 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the 300 level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.20 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction workers work at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.21 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction is seen from the 300 level of the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.22 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction on the field level at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.23 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction workers work at the Tennessee Titans new stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.24 / 24Update on new Titans stadium construction for Nashville NFL teamConstruction at the Tennessee Titans new stadium, as the current Nissan Stadium is seen in the rear, in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: Never miss a 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MEET THE GM: The untold stories of Mike Borgonzi's journey to Tennessee Titans
The Jets, picking No. 2, still seem likely to pick one of the dazzling edge rushers. But rumors have started to swirl about the No. 3 Arizona Cardinals, both whether they want to make the pick at all, and if they'd be more willing to bet on Love than one of the defenders or offensive linemen available to them.
These questions are only exacerbated by recent moves from teams like the New York Giants — who now possess two top-10 picks and have been connected to players like Love and Styles throughout the draft process — and by rumors about teams with multiple picks later in the first round that might be willing to move up, most notably the Dallas Cowboys.
It's the time of year where rumors surface by the minutes and hours, not by days. Keep yourself posted for the latest mock drafts, NFL draft rumors, trades, analysis and more.
Tuesday was a slower day on the rumor mill than Monday, with much of the speculation revolving around the New York Jets at No. 2. For most of the draft cycle, it was a foregone conclusion that the Jets wanted to pick Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Then the priority seemed to shift toward Texas Tech's David Bailey. Now the lever is ticking back toward Reese, with pundits arguing about how secretive the Jets are being.
How does this affect the Titans? Well, Bailey is more of a sure-thing prospect, at least when it comes to positional fit. He's less of a projection and more of a plug-and-play option. Reese, who'll likely be playing a new position as a pro, is a high-ceiling prospect with great traits, but also plenty of question marks.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released the final update to his Big Board, his ranking of the top players in the draft, on Tuesday morning. Mendoza is No. 1; potential Titans targets Jeremiyah Love, Reese and Bailey are ranked Nos. 2, 3 and 5 respectively.
Mike Tomlin appears to have found his next job after his nearly two-decade stint coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers came to an end in January. Per a report from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Tomlin will join NBC as a studio analyst for its Sunday night pregame show, "Football Night in America."
Tomlin went 193-114-2 in 19 seasons in Pittsburgh, coaching the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2008 and another appearance in 2010.
Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr proposed an interesting trade scenario for the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. In his mock draft, published Tuesday morning, Orr has the Titans moving back from No. 4 to No. 13 in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams, in this situation, are trading up to acquire RB Jeremiyah Love. The Titans, for moving out of the slot, give up picks Nos. 4 and 101 to receive picks Nos. 13, 61 and 93 as well as a first-round pick in 2027.
Orr has the Titans selecting Southern Cal WR Makai Lemon with the No. 13 pick.
What say you, Titans fans? Is the haul worth the downgrade from Love to Lemon?
Writing in his ESPN draft rumors file, Adam Schefter reported that there is a belief around the NFL that the Cardinals are more interested in drafting Love with the No. 3 pick than had otherwise been anticipated. He also reported that in the event the Jets pick Reese and the Cardinals pick Love, the Titans might be willing to pass on Bailey for a trade or another player. It's a complicated wrinkle to draft season this late in the process.
Instinct is to say it's hard to imagine the Titans passing on Bailey or Reese, and that Love would have to be the pick over Styles if both edge rushers are gone. If the Titans really believe these things, it's hard to believe they'd be saying them to national reporters this close to the draft. Same goes for the Cardinals. But the NFL is a league where keeping secrets is mighty hard.
The Titans are going into the draft with significant needs at edge rusher, guard, center, wide receiver and defensive back. They also could stand to improve at spots like running back, tight end and linebacker, and they could benefit from more depth on the offensive and defensive fronts.