Latest intel raises the stakes with an interesting situation one pick before the Titans in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, impacting who they could take

The Titans have plenty of interesting options available to them at 4th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but who those options are is totally riding on how the Cardinals handle their pick at 3.

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey (31) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Last year, the Tennessee Titans controlled their own future with the first overall pick. A year later, they sit at fourth overall with only one sure thing ahead of them: Fernando Mendoza first overall, heading to Las Vegas.

The Jets at 2 seem destined to take one of the top two edge rusher options, leaving just one of David Bailey or Arvell Reese on the board for the Cardinals at 3 and Titans at 4. Arizona is who holds the keys to what the Titans can do with their pick, because their choice is by far the least certain with just a matter of weeks left before draft weekend. And the Ringer’s Todd McShay shared this past week that he’s hearing that pick could wind up looking different than anybody expected.

Todd McShay shares latest intel on where Cardinals go with pick before Titans

On a recent episode of the McShay Show podcast, Todd McShay had this to say about the uncertainty of Arizona at pick 3:

“Number three, Cardinals. One source is saying, I know Schefter said that the clock starts on Jeremiyah Love at number five, he’s not going to Tennessee. Um, I know there’s someone in that (Cardinals) building that is pushing really, really hard for Jeremiyah Love that has a say. Okay. Then I get another person, and I’ve seen this in like mock drafts and people have been talking about this. It wasn’t surprising, but another person said trading out of three remains one of the priorities or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona. There’s a lot of buzz about Dallas. And I think that’s the noise of Dallas trading up from 12 to 3 to get Bailey, right.”

There’s a lot in that statement! First of all, this idea that the Cardinals could still end up just taking RB Jeremiyah Love after already having so much money allocated to their running back room is hilarious. Are we being serious? I’m not questioning McShay’s sourcing at all, but I am questioning the process of the decision makers inside that building if they are even considering this. They have newly-added Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson, James Connor, and Bam Knight in that room already. Adding Love would be so bizarre.

Secondly, any possibility of a trade would certainly spice things up in the first five picks. If there is any such possibility actually on the table in this down (at the top) draft class, the Titans should be working hard to consider those offers themselves. If a trade would be contingent on landing David Bailey, thought, Arizona at 3 makes more sense to deal with than the Titans at 4. That is where you could more likely ensure yourself the ability to take him.

“Arizona could be trading out of that spot,” McShay continued. “A team could be trying to trade up for an edge, specifically David Bailey. And I also say to you, there’s someone in that building, according to my source, that is pushing really hard for, let’s just take the best player in this draft at three, but they still need an offensive tackle. They still need edge.”

This is why the Cardinals really have the Titans in a vice right now. GM Mike Borgonzi and his team need to be doing war games to consider all possibilities, because Arizona could go tackle, top remaining edge, running back, or even trade out of the pick. They are who makes predicting what the Titans do at four so difficult right now.

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