The general expectation is that the Tennessee Titans will consider a small handful of options with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has been the popular mock-draft pick. Linebacker Sonny Styles, and pass rushers Arvell Reese and David Bailey would also receive strong consideration if they're on the board.
Three of the four names mentioned are defensive players. If the Titans want to invest in sophomore quarterback Cam Ward and his development, they'll draft an offensive player at No. 4. Dave Helman, co-host of The Athletic Football Show, recently put forth an underdiscussed scenario.
What if the Titans consider Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 4 overall? Helman posed the possibility while making a recent appearance on The Music City Audible Podcast.
NFL Draft guru thinks Titans should consider Francis Mauigoa at No. 4
"Francis Mauigoa can play guard," Helman said on The Music City Audible Podcast. "He was a fantastic college right tackle. There are plenty of people in this draft process who see him as a guard. At No. 4 overall, you take Francis Mauigoa, and you plug him in at right guard. You'd have quite the right side of your offensive line. And maybe he's the heir apparent at right tackle if the long-term future for JC Latham is not getting extended in Tennessee. I think drafting Mauigoa would go a long way towards stabilizing [that offensive line], and obviously it would help Cam Ward.”
Mauigoa enters the NFL Draft with tackle-guard flexibility. It would be difficult to justify his selection. If Mauigoa continues playing right tackle, the Titans already have JC Latham at that position, who has three years remaining on his rookie contract (fifth-year option included).
The Titans possess a major hole at right guard. They have not re-signed 2025 starter Kevin Zeitler, who remains available in free agency heading into the draft. Unless you're confident in sophomore Jackson Slater (who is probably more in-play at center) or Cordell Volson, it's safe to say the Titans' Week 1 starter at right guard probably isn't on the roster right now.
Could the Titans really spend the No. 4 overall pick on a guard, if that's where Mauigoa is tasked with playing? Quenton Nelson was probably the last guard drafted that highly who paid dividends. The Titans could use a Dan Moore replacement at left tackle, but there's serious doubt Mauigoa could play that position, given his short wingspan and right-sided familiarity.
Picking Mauigoa would shock Titans fans on draft night. It'd be an investment in Ward's protection, albeit a highly questionable, devalued one. Helman stated his case, but it'd be an unforeseen outcome if the Titans agreed.
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