Titans remain aggressive on first night of the draft | 2026 NFL Draft recap

The Tennessee Titans –led by general manager Mike Borgonzi- continued its aggressive offseason approach on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team’s conviction centers around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. They used the fourth overall pick to select former Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. The team felt he was one of the draft’s cleanest prospects.

Efficient receiving option

“The route running, very efficient, his route running. I thought he had exceptional ball skills to be able to track the footballs, catch radius downfield,” Borgonzi told the Nashville assembled media. “I think he’s going to be a great fit in this offense. And you know, he’s 20 years old last year playing at Ohio State. He’s a young kid.”

His length, contested catch capability and route-running should excite Ward. Of note, Tate’s blocking capability (see video below) should aid the team’s run game.

Moving around

But Borgonzi -a former All-Ivy league running back at Brown- did not stop there. With the team still needing a pass rusher, they moved back into the first round with some savvy maneuvering.

First, the team needed a trade partner. They found one in the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had gathered a number of picks moving back from its original spot (1st Round, 26th overall). As the first round neared its conclusion, the Titans still saw its pass rusher on the board.

The Titans brass packaged its second round pick (35th overall), a 2026 third-round pick (66th overall) and 2026 fourth-round pick (101st overall) to move up. They received the Bills’ first-round pick (31st overall), a 2026 third-round pick (69th overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (165th overall). With the 31st overall pick, they selected Auburn DE Keldric Faulk. Faulk -like Tate- is just 21 years old.

“He’s a young kid (Borgonzi referring to the earlier selection of Tate),” Borgonzi told reporters in Nashville. “So is Keldric (Faulk). They are both 21 now. Two young kids.”

Scheme Fit

Just as important, first-year head coach Robert Saleh built defenses in San Francisco around players of Faulk’s stature.

“Looking back to some of (Robert) Saleh’s defenses, too, it reminded me a little bit of (Arik) Armstead when he had him there in San Francisco,” Borgonzi said.

Faulk can now learn the defense from four players Saleh has coached in the past (Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas and Jordan Elliott). In addition, the team already has arguably the best defensive tackle in the league in Jeffery Simmons.

For a team that was already solid against the run in 2025 (15th overall), it ranks as a promising group.

Sure, the Titans moved back three spots in the third round and gave up its fourth round selection. As has been noted, that pick (101st overall) was the first pick of the fourth round. However, the team heads into Day 3 with an ability to control the fifth round. They have the 142nd, 144th and 165th (acquired from Buffalo) overall picks in that stanza.

But for Borgonzi, it’s simple. As he explained to reporters after the two picks, try to draft the players you want.

“We thought this guy really fit the defense well,” Borgonzi explained in regards to the trade up for Faulk. “So, we just went up. When you see a player that you like, you just go up and get him.”

Well said.

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