After a long-awaited three months following their final game of the season, the Tennessee Titans were finally able to draft their players of the future. Their draft haul included eight players, with a split between offense and defense, with four players each.
With mostly positive reviews from their draft selections and many players expected to contribute this season, they slightly rose in the NFL Power Rankings. NFL lead draft writer Eric Edholm moved the Titans, along with the trailing New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, up one spot ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the mid-20s.
Time will tell whether WR Carnell Tate was the right call at No. 4, but I was pretty happy with the work the Titans did in the draft. Edge Keldric Faulk and LB Anthony Hill Jr. are two pieces Robert Saleh really can use right away, especially on a defense that seemed like it could have added a bit more in free agency. There's still time, of course, even if things tend to slow down at this time of year. There was a big focus on surrounding Cam Ward with an improved cast this offseason, and I think the Titans have done that, even if they've been forced to spend significant resources on the likes of Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson. The AFC South is up for grabs, but it remains to be seen if Tennessee has done enough to enter the mix in contention.
As a young team on the rise, nobody expected a significant jump for the Titans. However, rising even one spot is progress and shows that many believe they are doing something right this offseason. Their draft picks completed their revamped units to nearly solve who will be starters, or who will compete to start when Training Camp begins in late July.
Tennessee made sure to add weapons for Cam Ward at the wide receiver position, while also adding players that fit Robert Saleh's defensive scheme in their top three picks. The future is bright in Nashville, and the media is viewing them in that light following a successful draft and free agency period.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans rise in NFL power rankings following 2026 NFL Draft