With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few short weeks away, let’s talk about some prospects who deserve more shine than they’re getting. I reached out to nine of my friends who I know and trust as football minds and prospect evaluators, and I asked them a simple question: who doesn’t get talked about much in the media who you would pound the table for?

They gave me some fascinating answers, and it’s become this three part series that we begin here today. In this first installment, we take a closer look at three players who could go earlier in the 2nd round than they’re being talked about right now.

ESPN’s Turron Davenport, as well as Justin Graver and Justin Melo of the Music City Audible joined me to discuss these first three prospects in the video linked above. Here’s what you need to know about these potential Titans targets.

Chris Bell | WR | Louisville

Too often do we see AJ Brown comps thrown around for big, fast, strong receivers coming out of college these days. But Louisville’s Chris Bell truly does deserve that mention.

He comes in at 51st on the consensus draft board. At nearly 6’2″ and 22lbs (91st percentile), his hulking frame is different from most of the other players in this class. He was expected to run in the 4.3’s on his 40-yard dash, but that wasn’t officially measured because of his ACL tear last year. He tore it near the end of the season, on November 22nd to be exact. This is the only reason why he’s going to be available on Day 2 in this class; because he won’t be able to contribute in the first half of this season. What I’ve heard is that a return by October is his expectation.

In 11 starts last year, he put up 917 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s a career 60% contested catch guy, with legit separation ability in his massive physical frame. That lends to his impressive YAC ability. This is exactly the kind of receiver I’d love to have to round out the Titans WR room, if only they’re willing to be a little patient with him returning.

Derrick Moore | EDGE | Michigan

The more I dig into Derrick Moore’s tape and profile, the more confused I am to see him down at 59th on the consensus draft board. He’s nearly 6’4″ and 255lbs, with 33 3/8 inch arms. Last year he managed 11 sacks, 41 pressures, 21 hurries, and 2 forced fumbles in the Wolverines defense. When you stack him up against the rest of the EDGE class, he looks even more impressive. He has the 2nd highest pressure rate (24.3%), 4th highest quick pressure rate (7.4%), and he posted the best PFF pass rush grade of any Big Ten defender in 2025.

Moore’s first step is top shelf, he’s a twitched up athlete, and he has a power profile to boot. If he refines his technical skillset and establishes some consistency in the NFL, his raw tools will take him far.

Keylan Rutledge | IOL | Georgia Tech

I think people are finally beginning to catch wind of just how high Rutledge might go. He’s the 67th player on consensus draft board, but recent big boards are beginning to reflect his high second round potential this week. The Georgia Tech guard is 6’4″ and 316lbs, with 33 1/4in arms. He ran a 5.05s 40-yard dash (91st percentile), 7.54s 3-cone (82nd percentile), and jumped a 32 1.4in vert (92nd percentile). Needless to say, he’s a very explosive athlete for a lineman.

Rutledge actually began his college career in middle Tennessee at MTSU, where he entered the starting rotation almost immediately as a true freshman. He played there two seasons before heading south to Georgia Tech. In two seasons there, he allowed 1 sack and 12 pressures on 893 pass block snaps. At the Senior Bowl this winter, he worked at the two positions of Titans need: Right Guard and Center. If Mike Boronzi decides to go OL earlier than people are expecting, I think Rutledge will be on his radar.