The bounce-back season that Tennessee Titans fans were hoping for hasn't arrived, at least not yet. At 0-4, the Titans are set to be picking near the top of the draft once again in 2027.
Luckily, there are plenty of prospects for fans to get excited about. Draft analysts have billed the 2027 class as one of the best in the last two decades, and the Titans may have the chance to bring in one of the top few players in the bunch.
Before getting started with this seven-round mock draft, though, let's make one thing abundantly clear: We will not be replacing Cam Ward in this exercise. In fact, we're more focused on building around him.
Round 1 - Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Edge rusher might not be the Titans' most pressing need, though they could stand to upgrade from Jacob Martin. Need or not, there aren't many reasons to pass up on Colin Simmons.
The Texas edge defender has established himself as the most dangerous pass rushers in college football. He already has 7.5 sacks this season, ranking second in the nation. His burst off the line of scrimmage and developed arsenal of pass rush moves make him impossible for opposing offensive tackles to handle.
Round 2 - Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
At this point, we can say that the Dan Moore Jr. experiment has delivered the expected results. He has allowed Ward to be pressured a bit too often and isn't coming close to living up to his contract. It's time to look for a long-term replacement.
Iowa's Trevor Lauck is one to watch for Titans fans. He's the next in the Hawkeyes' long line of talented, buttoned-up offensive linemen and could be a perfect fit in Tennessee. Lauck is stellar in pass protection and would protect Ward's blindside for years to come.
Round 3 - Hollywood Smothers, RB, Texas
There's no better way to support a young quarterback than by establishing a strong running game. With Tony Pollard at the end of his prime, the Titans could be looking for a new running back next offseason.
Hollywood Smothers averaged nearly six yards per carry last season, and he's been efficient for Texas in 2026. If he's still available in the third round, Tennessee would have to strongly consider taking him.
Round 4 - DJ McKinney, CB, Notre Dame
There are too many areas of need on the Titans' roster to be fixed in a single draft, but they have to address the cornerback room in some capacity. Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor have both fallen short of expectations.
Notre Dame's DJ McKinney would provide immediate depth and could work his way onto the field faster than most fourth-round picks. He gets plenty of targets playing opposite Leonard Moore, but he's been up to the task this season.
Round 5 - Cooper Barkate, WR, Miami
This seems as good a place as any to note that the Titans shouldn't enter the 2027 NFL Draft with only their own picks. Between now and April, Mike Borgonzi must find a way to gain at least an extra late-round pick by trading away a veteran. For now, though, we have only the original seven selections to work with.
Cooper Barkate would be worth a swing on Day 3. He has the speed to separate himself from defensive backs and has already found the end zone four times for Miami this season.
Round 6 - Shadre Hurst, OG, Houston
The Titans should always be looking to improve their offensive line, even in the later rounds. Houston guard Shadre Hurst would be a solid backup and could even find himself in the starting lineup if Fernando Carmona or Jackson Slater fail to come back from injury at their best.
Round 7 - A.J. Harris, CB, Indiana
Teams often find value late in the draft by taking players who were formerly considered top prospects and have slipped down the board for various reasons. The Titans could find exactly that in A.J. Harris. The Indiana cornerback is still recovering from an injury after transferring from Penn State, but he has the traits to stick in the NFL.
Add us as a preferred source on Google