Titans already getting strong early returns from 2026 NFL Draft class
The Titans need their latest draft class to make a positive impact if they want to take a step forward in 2026. The arrow is certainly trending up as the team pushes through OTAs.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans 2026 NFL Draft class is generating buzz before OTAs even begin. Veterans and rookies will intermingle at the facility this week.
Early returns from the group Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi assembled have been encouraging.
Carnell Tate, Keldric Falk, and Anthony Hill could all contribute immediately
The Titans could see immediate contributions across multiple positions. No. 4 overall pick wide receiver Carnell Tate adds offensive firepower, while fifth-round running back Nick Singleton might be the best overall value. The conversation around this draft class picked up after an interview with Steve Muench on The Buck Reising Show on 104.5 The Zone.
Muench’s evaluation reinforced what has quietly been building out of the initial stages of the offseason program.
This rookie group has a chance to make a tangible difference for a franchise desperate to take a step forward around quarterback Cam Ward. Tate arrives as the highest-drafted skill player in the 2026 NFL Draft. The idea is he’ll help a Tennessee passing attack that ranked among the NFL’s worst last season in touchdowns, total yards, efficiency, and third-down conversions.
He won’t single-handedly fix those problems. The former Ohio State receiver, however, does give Ward something closer to a true No. 1 option than anyone previously on the roster. 2025 fourth-round picks Chimere Dike or Elic Ayomanor, played out of absolute necessity as rookies, but Tate represents a meaningful upgrade.
Keldric Falk, the first-round pick out of Auburn, is a different story. The expectation level for Falk should be significantly different compared to Tate or linebacker Anthony Hill. Tennessee added several defensive linemen this offseason through free agency and trades, including Solomon Thomas from Dallas and Jermaine Johnson from New York. Johnson remains the Titans’ best edge option.
Falk will see the field, but in more of a role-player capacity during Year 1. The hope is that he develops into something more over time.
Hill is the rookie who could push for a starting job right away. The expectation is that he will challenge veteran Cody Barton for one of the starting off-ball linebacker spots. The biggest question there is whether Hill will call the defense as a rookie.
The fifth- and sixth-round offensive linemen, Carmona and Coogan, are tougher to evaluate at this stage. It is difficult to make judgments about offensive linemen before they put on shoulder pads and practice with real physicality. Whether they end up as depth pieces or compete for starting jobs will not be clear until training camp.
Nick Singleton might be the best value pick in the entire class
The player who could be the steal of this draft for Tennessee is Singleton.
Safety Kevin Winston, a third-round selection, was the best value pick the Titans made in 2025. Many believed he would have been a first-round pick had he not torn his ACL during his final year at Penn State. Singleton is in position to fill a similar role.
While hugely productive during his time at Penn State, Singleton joins a crowded backfield.
Singleton can immediately step into the third-down back role currently held by Tajae Spears. He is more versatile than Spears in meaningful ways. Spears has receiving ability that might actually exceed his talent as a runner, but Singleton is better in pass protection, more durable between the tackles, and still capable of catching the ball out of the backfield. That combination of skills makes him a nice value add for a Tennessee offense searching for answers.
OTAs begin next week, and the picture around this rookie class will only become more clear.