The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the debate over what to do with it is heating up fast. While Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has emerged as the most popular mock draft projection for Tennessee, ESPN analyst and former NFL General Manager Mike Tannenbaum is pushing back, hard.
“The offensive line is a must, the running back is a ‘nice to have.'”@RealTannenbaum believes the Titans MUST prioritize the offensive line pic.twitter.com/nEuIv7JJsM
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 15, 2026
“The offensive line is a must, the running back is a ‘nice to have,’” Tannenbaum said bluntly during a recent ESPN appearance. His message to the Titans front office is clear: address the trenches first, or risk undermining everything this franchise is trying to build around second-year quarterback Cam Ward.
When you look at Tennessee’s roster, Tannenbaum’s argument makes a lot of sense. The Titans’ offensive line is still a big problem as they get ready for the 2026 season. Right guard and center are two positions that need to be filled right away. No matter who is in the backfield, the offense will have a hard time if the front five can’t protect Ward and open up running lanes.
General manager Mike Borgonzi, who spent years with the Kansas City Chiefs, has firsthand knowledge of just how devastating a leaky offensive line can be, even for elite quarterbacks. Shoring up the trenches isn’t glamorous, but it’s foundational.
To be fair, the Love camp makes compelling points. The Notre Dame standout is regarded as the most electrifying back in this draft class, drawing comparisons to a new-age Derrick Henry for Tennessee. Many draft analysts have suggested Love could legitimately be the pick even if top pass rushers David Bailey and Arvell Reese are still on the board at No. 4.
Love totaled career highs in receiving yards, yards per catch, and touchdowns in 2025, proving he is a legitimate three-down weapon, not just a between-the-tackles bruiser.
The Titans are nine days away from one of the most consequential draft decisions in recent franchise history. Tannenbaum’s bottom line resonates, a running back can be found at value later in the draft, but a franchise-altering offensive lineman at No. 4 is an opportunity that doesn’t come around twice. With Cam Ward entering Year 2, the window to get him the protection he needs is now.
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