5 players the Tennessee Titans must target in 2026 draft, including Jeremiyah Love

The offseason is shaping up to be a busy one in Nashville. After a disappointing season, the Titans are facing significant roster turnover. Their top priorities include hiring a new head coach following Brian Callahan’s firing, adding firepower to a struggling offense, and shoring up a defense that desperately needs pass rushers.

The 2026 NFL Draft gives Tennessee an opportunity to add talent to a depleted roster. With an almost certain top-ten pick, the Titans should be able to land at least one premier player. Here’s a look at five prospects they should target.

Five players the Titans should target in the 2026 NFL Draft

Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

The Titans most pressing need is adding punch to their pass rush, which is why Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. should be near the top of their list, especially if the new head coach runs a 4–3 defense. Bain is one of the more well-rounded players in the 2026 NFL Draft, possessing the size at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, along with the strength to hold up against the run and the quickness to be a consistent threat as a pass rusher. That shows up in the numbers. Bain recorded 58 pressures and earned a 93.0 PFF pass-rushing grade, the second-highest mark in college football, to go along with an 87.4 PFF grade against the run.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Not many people are linking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Titans in the first round, but the fit makes sense if Tennessee wins another game or two or chooses to trade down. Love would be an immediate upgrade to a running game that has been one of the worst in the NFL, while also giving quarterback Cam Ward another legitimate weapon in the passing game. His presence would make the play-action attack far more dangerous and consistently put Ward in favorable situations, setting him up to take a major step forward after a somewhat disappointing rookie season.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

On Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, an offensive weapon who makes a lot of sense for the Titans is Zachariah Branch. He is a dynamic receiver who has drawn Tyreek Hill comparisons dating back to his time at Bishop Gorman High School, and the film makes it easy to see why. Like Hill, Branch has game-breaking speed that makes him extremely dangerous after the catch. He totaled 586 yards after the catch this season, the fourth-highest mark in college football according to PFF. Branch would be an ideal complement to Elic Ayomanor, who brings more size and physicality, and would give Cam Ward a reliable option in the slot.

Joshua Josephs, DE, Tennessee

If the Titans wait to add a pass rusher until Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft, a prospect who makes sense, especially if the team leans toward a three-man front, is Tennessee’s Joshua Josephs. Josephs is an athletic edge rusher with an 82-inch wingspan that allows him to consistently threaten the quarterback, as reflected by his 90.3 PFF pass-rushing grade. 

Kade Pieper, OG, Iowa

Along with adding weapons for Cam Ward, the Titans need to firm up his protection up front, especially if Kevin Zeitler walks in free agency. Iowa guard Kade Pieper makes a lot of sense in the third or fourth round. His on-field production stands out. Pieper earned PFF All-American honors after not allowing a single sack all season and giving up just seven pressures. He is also an elite athlete by offensive line standards, holding the Iowa program record with a 37-inch vertical jump and a 1.52 10-yard split.