The Tennessee Titans made eight total selections during the 2026 NFL Draft. It started with wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 overall and ended with tight end Jaren Kanak with the 225th pick. Not every expert agrees, but the Titans should draw stellar grades for their draft class.
The arrival of eight rookies (plus the pending undrafted rookie class) will place pressure on various veterans on the roster. The decisions the Titans made -- and didn't make -- had a profound impact on the make-up of this roster. With that in mind, we've identified four winners and two losers from the Titans' 2026 NFL Draft.
Winner: Cam Ward
The Tennessee Titans used their fourth overall selection on wide receiver Carnell Tate, choosing to invest in quarterback Cam Ward. The consensus argued Arvell Reese was the best prospect on the board, but he's a defensive player facing a possible position transition. Through route-running prowess and elite hands, Tate should make Ward better right away, giving the young quarterback a true go-to receiver he can grow with.
Winner: Tony Pollard
The Titans were heavily linked to selecting running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 4 overall. He went to Arizona Cardinals one pick before the Titans, and Mike Borgonzi didn't end up drafting a running back until Nicholas SIngleton in the fifth round. That all but guarantees veteran Tony Pollard will return as the bell-cow in 2026. The room is crowded, with Singleton also joining Tyjae Spears, Michael Carter, Kalel Mullings, and Julius Chestnut, but Pollard is easily the most talented player.
Loser: Elic Ayomanor
Tate immediately projects as the "X" receiver in Brian Daboll's offense. That's not great news for sophomore Elic Ayomanor, who dominated snaps at that position as a rookie in 2025. Receivers play different roles in this system, but Ayomanor is now WR5 on the depth chart behind Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Chimere Dike. That indicates he'll see diminishing reps.
Winner: Robert Saleh
After selecting Tate, the Titans traded up for their new two picks, defensive end Keldric Faulk and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Both are easy scheme fits for Robert Saleh's defense. They're big, long, rangy, athletic, and explosive. Saleh's assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, have clear plans in place for Faulk and Hill in the system.
Winner: Gunnar Helm
The Titans moved on from Chig Okonkwo this offseason and made Gunnar Helm the primary tight end on the roster. The sophomore will be joined by free-agent addition Daniel Bellinger, who will share responsibilities as a blocker. The Titans didn't draft a tight end until the seventh round, and it was a project pick in Jaren Kanak. The offense is counting on Helm to take a step forward.
Loser: Cody Barton
The Titans traded for Hill because he's everything Saleh and this defensive coaching staff craves in a linebacker. That same staff is inheriting Cody Barton, a mature veteran leader whose play on the field was fairly uneven in 2025. Borgonzi likes and appreciates Barton, but drafting Hill is probably one step closer to reimagining the entire linebacker room in Saleh's vision.
Add us as a preferred source on Google