Titans’ draft could shock fans if thinnest positions on GM Mike Borgonzi’s roster are any indication of what he prioritizes

We’re in the home stretch of this year’s draft season, and it’s close to time to compile all of our clues and tea leaves into what we think the Tennessee Titans ultimately do. Off the heels of a huge free agency and many conversations had at the NFL’s annual Owners Meetings, I can’t help but […]

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (OL40) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

We’re in the home stretch of this year’s draft season, and it’s close to time to compile all of our clues and tea leaves into what we think the Tennessee Titans ultimately do.

Off the heels of a huge free agency and many conversations had at the NFL’s annual Owners Meetings, I can’t help but survey the current state of the Titans roster and wonder if they will attribute more draft resources towards where football games are won and lost at the most fundamental level: the trenches.

Thinnest positions on Titans roster could be draft clues

We came into this spring with three clear Titans needs at premium positions: wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. They’ve addressed each in some way since then.

A month ago, we weren’t sure who would be in this receiver room besides 2nd year WRs Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. Today, we know that Calvin Ridley has been locked down to return and Wan’Dale Robinson was paid handsomely to join up in free agency. They’ve also shored up their depth, currently rostering ten wide receivers. That doesn’t prohibit them from adding one or two more in the draft, and they still need a true WR1 for Cam Ward, but this group is not in an alarming place anymore.

At cornerback, two big free agent additions gave this team two new starters: Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. Josh Williams was also added as depth. They absolutely still need to add young bodies to this room, both for depth and future starting potential if these expensive veteran starters don’t last long. But this isn’t a five alarm fire anymore either.

At EDGE, the only significant move that was made came during Combine Week. T’Vondre Sweat was traded one-for-one to the Jets for former Saleh first round pick Jermaine Johnson. He certainly raises the floor of this room, but the Titans still need a true star EDGE. In particular, they’re very thin at their standup, wide/speed edge role whose job is to get after the passer on money downs. This is why David Bailey and Arvell Reese at the top of the draft make so much sense.

And throughout this whole process, two new critical holes were created. The Titans cut C Lloyd Cushenberry and haven’t signed RG Kevin Ziegler back yet. So as things stand, starting right guard is free agent signing Cordell Volson (who didn’t play a snap last season), and starting center is a competition between 2025 5th round pick Jackson Slater and free agent signing Austin Schlottman. These are tenuous plans!

I know Mike Borgonzi. I know he’s serious when he says he prioritizes building from the trenches-out. And these three trench positions are objectively amongst the thinnest on this roster. They need starting talent and depth. And while we’ve all been focused on Jeremiyah Love, wide receivers and corners in the top-100, I won’t be surprised if they spend more on the trenches in the end.

Obviously, Bailey or Reese (or even Rueben Bain!) at 4th overall could be the first investment. Day 2 EDGE options are plentiful as well: UCF’s Malachi Lawrence, Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas, Illinois’s Gabe Jacas, and Texas Tech’s Romello Height’s are a couple of the interesting options.

At interior OL, Day 2 options include Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge, Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, and Iowa’s Logan Jones.

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