Considering the fact that the Tennessee Titans have a franchise quarterback already on the roster, there are not many "bad" scenarios for the 2026 NFL Draft at this point.
The Titans are picking 4th overall, but they will still be able to get one of the top non-quarterbacks on their board, and one of the few true blue-chip talents in this upcoming class. But what if we told you the Titans could come away from this draft with two elite prospects, and they wouldn't even have to trade up to make it happen?
That is precisely the scenario that's been presented in the latest two-round mock draft from ESPN Draft expert Matt Miller, who has the Titans getting bigger and better on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Latest ESPN mock draft gives the Titans a pair of elite prospects for the offensive and defensive line
Let's take a look at the two players Miller picked for the Titans, and we'll get into why this could be the ultimate dream scenario for the team.
- 4th overall: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
- 36th overall: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Here is part of Miller's explanation for the Bain selection, as well as his explanation of the Proctor pick:
On Bain: "Defense is the smartest bet in this draft. After finishing in the middle of the pack with 42 sacks this season, the Titans hired defensive-minded Robert Saleh as coach and will likely use a base 4-3 defense where three-down defensive ends are needed."
On Proctor: "The Titans have one supersized offensive tackle from Alabama in JC Latham, so let's give them another. Proctor's tape at the end of the season was much better than at the beginning, and he has immense potential as a starting left tackle."
- Matt Miller, ESPN
The quickest way to raise the floor of a team is to raise the level of play on both sides of the line of scrimmage. If you are consistently winning in the trenches, you're going to be able to stay in most games. It's typically the teams getting beat in the trenches that are falling behind the contenders around the league and picking near the top of the NFL Draft.
The Titans have found that out the hard way.
Jeffery Simmons led the team last year with 11 sacks, but getting another playmaker on the defensive front like Rueben Bain -- arguably the most popular Titans draft pick of the offseason for the national media -- would be massive.
The Bain selection doesn't really need much of a defense, or even really much of a campaign at this point. He's going to be one of the best defensive players from this class, and could help the Titans tremendously.
As for Kadyn Proctor, that's the typical discussion that happens around the NFL Draft every year of a prospect who is in the "risk vs. reward" category. Picking a prospect like Proctor (say that five times fast) would be similar to getting T'Vondre Sweat, at least in some ways.
This is a guy whose ceiling is exceptionally high...if he can keep his weight down.
Proctor's size has never prevented him from being an impressive athlete. He was named among the Bruce Feldman freaks and was getting looks in the passing game from Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. When you dream up the ideal "dancing bear" for an offensive line prospect, Proctor is pretty much the archetype.
Those types of prospects don't exactly grow on trees. To get two players for the trenches who are elite athletes like this would be a huge win for the Titans as they continue to build around the foundation that is Cam Ward.