The Tennessee Titans no longer find themselves feeling constrained at the top of the draft board due to the quarterback position, and with Cam Ward already in place and Hendon Hooker added as a backup, the Titans hold the fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft, along with additional selections at 35 and 66 before the draft moves into the middle rounds.
Team coverage indicates a split in focus between two clear early directions: pass rusher and running back. Jeremiyah Love frequently appears in discussions alongside edge players like David Bailey, Arvell Reese, and Rueben Bain.
Tennessee should not approach this draft as if it only has one pick. A more strategic plan would involve trading down from the fourth overall pick to remain within range for Love while using the additional draft capital to bolster the front seven on Friday, and this strategy aligns better with the available talent than simply staying put and drafting whichever defender is highest on their board.
Trading down makes sense because the value of the pick at fourth overall is likely greater than the difference among the defensive prospects Tennessee is considering.
If the Titans are not selecting a quarterback, the criteria for the pick change, and the key question becomes whether any of the available players are significantly better than the next tier of talent, making it a mistake to move back.
Given that the team is already considering both running backs and edge rushers, the answer might be no. In this case, the smarter strategy is to capitalize on part of the pick’s value rather than using it all at once.
Jeremiyah Love is central to this evaluation.
Coverage from the combine has solidified his profile as more than just a conventional running back, as he recorded 1,372 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 27 receptions, 280 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, and received unanimous All-American recognition and the Doak Walker Award.
Several reputable analysts, including Mel Kiper Jr., Daniel Jeremiah, and Matt Miller, have projected him to the Titans, indicating that the team is being seriously considered for a top offensive player, not just as a fallback option for a defensive player.
However, drafting Love at fourth overall would still be a tough justification, and the value of a running back typically does not align perfectly with that high of a pick unless he is considered exceptional.
Even then, building a roster becomes challenging because the fifth-year option is less appealing for running backs compared to positions like quarterback, tackle, edge, or corner, and moving down in the draft alters this equation, as a pick in the 7-to-10 range represents a different conversation than one at four.
If Tennessee believes Love could be the centerpiece of their offense alongside Ward, the goal should be to draft him at a more favorable position while adding another valuable pick.
And this is beneficial because the Titans would not be forced to choose solely between Love and defense, and they could structure the draft to effectively acquire both.
Move down and reset the board
© Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Many top-five teams make the mistake of assuming that their highest draft pick must single-handedly solve the franchise’s issues. However, the Titans do not need to approach their situation this way, as they have already made their decision regarding the quarterback, and now their focus should be on building around him.
A young quarterback generally benefits more from a stable offensive structure than from a draft strategy that seeks to win positional-value debates.
Love fits this offensive structure for several reasons, as he is not seen as a niche player, and he is viewed as a running back capable of carrying a heavy workload, catching passes, and serving as a central piece of the offense. The Titans need to reduce pressure on their quarterback in his early seasons.
A strong running game aids in pass protection, helps with play sequencing, minimizes obvious passing situations, and provides the offense with something consistently reliable as the quarterback learns how to navigate the league’s defenses.
That said, they don’t have to pursue him recklessly. On the contrary, moving down in the draft is only advantageous if the team remains within range to select a meaningful player.
The objective is to convert excess draft value into an additional worthwhile selection among the top 75 or 100, while still acquiring the same offensive player, and this approach is much cleaner than selecting Love at fourth overall and then hoping the remainder of the draft fills itself out adequately.
Timing is crucial, as the Titans’ official mock drafts indicate that the edge rusher group is deep enough to remain relevant even if their first pick is allocated elsewhere, and trading down would also enhance the overall quality of the draft.
Currently, the Titans hold picks 4, 35, 66, 101, 142, 144, 184, 194, and 225, and while this is a manageable set of picks, it becomes even more valuable if moving down from fourth allows them to gain another significant asset.
A team with such a draft layout should be thinking strategically: one pick for the offense, one or two for the front seven, and subsequently, later selections for depth and competition, and this approach is far more beneficial than drafting a single premium defender and expecting the offense to wait its turn.
Use Friday on the front seven
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Once they acquire the offensive player it desires, the next priority should be defense, particularly focusing on the front seven.
This is where the additional value from trading down comes into play, and instead of using their highest pick on an edge rusher, often the conventional choice, the Titans can let the first day of the draft influence their second-day strategy.
With an extra pick, they’ll have more opportunities to address needs at edge, linebacker, or another defensive position before the talent pool starts to dwindle.
This is especially important since Tennessee’s public commentary has already emphasized a focus on pass rushers early in the draft, and second-day value usually lies in these positions, particularly if there are enough picks available.
If their evaluations reveal that the difference between the top edge player they might take at the fourth pick and the edge players available at 35, or with a small move on Friday, is less significant than the gap between their QB and the next offensive player they favor, then it makes sense not to adhere strictly to traditional positional priorities.
Instead, they should secure the more challenging replacement first and utilize the extra draft capital to address defensive needs where there is still ample talent.
This is a draft-specific consideration rather than a general football strategy, because it hinges on the unique dynamics of this draft class and the Titans’ current preferences.
Public statements from the team suggest that both offensive and defensive positions are in play, and in this case, how they sequence their picks becomes more critical than simply arguing which position should go first.
Tennessee must examine where it would be most disadvantaged by waiting, because if losing out on a running back is the biggest concern, they should prioritize that decision while keeping the overall draft board in mind.
Many fans may prefer a more basic approach to stay put, draft an edge rusher, and maintain conventional strategies, and this preference is understandable, but it tends to simplify the complexities of the draft into rigid labels instead of thoughtful decisions.
They are not bound to make the most traditional choice at fourth overall, and their obligation is to maximize the value of their selection during a season when the quarterback situation has already been settled.
Trading down achieves this objective more effectively than remaining in the same position, because it provides the Titans with a more justifiable draft price for Love, increases the likelihood of exiting the first two days with both an offensive centerpiece and significant defensive support, and aligns with a strategy focused on building around Ward and not adhering to outdated positional needs before prioritizing the offense’s defining player.
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