NFL Mock Draft: Who Do Titans Pick If They're Outside The Top 5?

The holiday season is in full swing, so as a last-minute gift, how about a 2026 NFL mock draft?

The Tennessee Titans are among the small gaggle of teams still contending to earn the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, along with the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Giants, the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns. Some of the top contenders for the No. 1 pick include quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Dante Moore (Oregon), as well as defenders like linebacker Arvell Reese (Ohio State), defensive linemen Reuben Bain Jr. (Miami) and David Bailey (Texas Tech) and receivers Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State).

For this mock draft, before the draft order is set, we’ll refrain from simulating any trades, instead focusing on team needs and matching teams with prospects who might be able to help.

2026 NFL mock draft: Holiday week edition

1. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State

No team’s ever going to draft a safety first overall. If the Giants earn the No. 1 pick, expect either a trade or a long reconsideration of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. But, in a no-trades mock, the Giants win by settling for the best pure football player in the draft, as solid, productive and game-changing as a safety can be, and a player who can step in and play cornerback or linebacker as needed due to his versatility.

2. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Being the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to a perfect season, Big Ten title and No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff is an unfathomable resume to consider just two years ago. Mendoza plays with a kind of poise and control that can help stabilize a Raiders offense that has impressive pieces, but hasn’t been able to capitalize on them.

3. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Maybe Cleveland can get by with Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel as their QB of the future. Or maybe they can hold off another year before trying for another top-10 quarterback. The likeliest scenario is the Browns try to find what they’ve been missing for 25 years, and Moore has the anticipation skills and arm talent to fill the hole.

4. New York Jets: Rueben Bain Jr., DL/EDGE, Miami

Questions are going to linger about Bain’s lack of elite length, and whether that’ll force him off the edge as a pro. The reality is he’s remarkable productive at his craft, and whether the Jets bump him inside or not, he’s a player you can expect to affect the quarterback.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Whether this is a last-ditch effort to make the Kyler Murray era work or a move toward resetting the offense post-Murray, the Cardinals add a good one here. Love is as balanced and productive as college running backs come, and he’ll pair well with young star like Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr.

6. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

It’s a pick that’s all about projectability. Reese has all the traits to be a star pass rusher as a pro. And when he’s been given the opportunity to play there at Ohio State, he’s produced. The problem is he’s a one-year starter who’s played as much off-ball linebacker as edge defender in that one year. It’ll take some development to make Reese into the game-changer NFL squads will envision him as. But the upside is tremendous.

7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

LSU wasn’t the most fun team to watch in 2025, but Delane always popped. Quarterbacks throwing against him completed only 37.1% of their passes for a passer rating of just 26.7. He broke up almost as many passes as he allowed completions, and he did so without a penalty called against him. As good as cornerbacks get.

8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

If the Saints are going to lean into Tyler Shough at quarterback, it’s best to surround him with weaponry. Tate is an all-around force at receiver, one who’ll be able to get open and power through contested targets. He’ll be the Saints’ WR1 in no time.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

So the Bengals try again off the edge. Bailey was the most productive pass rusher in college football this fall, and the Bengals bet on present ability rather than raw upside this time, looking for some stability as the Trey Hendrickson saga continues to unfold.

10. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Dolphins have some big decisions to make as the Tua Tagovailoa-Tyreek Hill era could be coming to a close. Tyson doesn’t fill the void at quarterback, but he could step in as a worthy heir to Hill’s job. He’s not the pure speed threat of Hill, but then again, who is? Instead, he’s a contested catch threat, a deep threat and a versatile enough presence to play inside and outside.

11. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Rams use a bonus pick gained in a trade during the 2025 draft to solidify their future at quarterback. Matthew Stafford is still playing at an MVP pace, but the Rams know he won’t be around forever. The Simpson who thrived in September and October looked like a No. 1 pick contender. The Simpson who limped through November barely looked like a first-round pick. Let coach Sean McVay try his hand at molding him.

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

One down year and the Chiefs get to reload with the top offensive lineman in the class. Doesn’t seem fair. Fano didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit as Utah’s right tackle in 2025, and he also has experience playing on the left from earlier in his college tenure.

13. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Faulk’s another player who didn’t exactly live up to his 2025 expectations, at least not from sack production, but he’s got unique size and skills for a player at his position, and should be part of the lengthy rebuild the Cowboys are undergoing to replace Micah Parsons off the edge.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Isaiah Likely is a pending free agent and Mark Andrews just turned 30. The Ravens have always built around tight ends, and Sadiq has the ability to be a transformative one. This doesn’t help Lamar Jackson and company all that much on the perimeter, but Sadiq helps this offense be the best version of itself.

15. Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Early in the college season, Woods earned looks at a potential No. 1 pick candidate. Some luster has come off after he didn’t quite dominate the 2025 season the way people expected. But he’s still a penetrating interior defensive lineman who can add value to an already scary Minnesota defense.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles is credited with zero missed tackles in 2025. No other linebacker who played 200 snaps can claim that, and Styles has played 600 snaps. No one’s asking Styles to step in and be Lavonte David. But he’ll be a stalwart.

17. Detroit Lions: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

The Lions aren’t necessarily famous for drafting needs in the first round. But Detroit needs help up the middle, and Ioane is as good of an option as they’ll be able to find. He’s a guard by trade, and the Lions will be able to slot him in pretty much immediately.

18. New York Jets (from IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Arguably the best wide receiver in college football this season, Lemon uses his more slender frame to his advantage in interesting ways. He’s surprisingly strong at the point of attack, plays on the perimeter more often than you’d expect and is excellent after the catch despite being used as a vertical threat pretty often. The Jets get themselves as good of a No. 2 option opposite Garrett Wilson as a team could want.

19. Carolina Panthers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Like just about everyone associated with Clemson in 2025, Terrell’s going to have to answer for a disappointing fall. But the size, talent and family pedigree all point to a player with big potential, and one who can complement Jaycee Horn to give Carolina’s secondary one heckuva one-two punch.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

It’s the Steelers. As much fun as it is to pick wide receivers and quarterbacks and all these skill position guys in mock draft, they love to build from the inside. Even with recent first-round picks on the offensive line still on roster, the Steelers take the opportunity to add another good one, and hopefully improve the unit along the way.

21. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Step one to replacing Parsons was Faulk. Step two is another SEC edge rusher. The Cowboys double up, and grab the reigning SEC Player of the Year in the process, betting on his production and upside despite a smaller frame.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama

The Eagles roster is still loaded, so it’s worth adding a developmental piece who can fill in if Lane Johnson starts to feel or show the pangs of age. Proctor is a superb athlete who is still a little raw as a blocker, but has all the traits teams covet.

23. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

Banks is massive, measuring in at 330 pounds. He barely played in 2025, but once he’s healthy, the idea of an interior space eater who can draw even more attention away from Will Anderson Jr., and Danielle Hunter is a significant advantage for Houston.

24. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Bills opt for the big, rangy Boston, an ace on intermediate targets who can use his 6-foot-4 frame to win contested catch battles and who’s particularly comfortable in the middle of the field. The search to find Josh Allen a true No. 1 receiver is ongoing.

25. Los Angeles Chargers: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Say it again: A Clemson star has to answer for a down year in 2025. Although, Parker’s year wasn’t all that down. He graded out as one of the 10 best edge defenders in the ACC and logged 40 pressures. These weren’t the numbers he put up in 2024, but still a solid performance for a consistent prospect.

26. San Francisco 49ers: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa

The words “Iowa” and “tackle” are usually enough to sell a casual fan on a draft prospect. Dunker’s more than his pedigree, though. He’s a renowned character who’s been described at times as a hay bale tossing champ, an avid philosophy reader and someone who tries to catch catfish with his bare hands while wading in water. None of that necessarily makes you great at football, but he’s also a first-time All Big Ten honoree who’s among the strongest lifters in Iowa Hawkeyes history. Add it all up and Dunker makes sense in San Francisco.

27. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Give Browns owner Jimmy Haslam the opportunity to draft a standout from the Vols offense, and bet he’ll take it. Brazzell is as good of a deep threat as there is in this draft, and now he gets to catch deep shots from Moore as the Browns’ offense continues its overhaul.

28. Los Angeles Rams: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

Allen is a rock-steady run defender with solid coverage skills and a history of being able to rush the passer as needed. He’s arguably the most complete player on a Georgia squad that cruised to an SEC title. Not that the Rams need to get richer, but they still can with this pick.

29. Chicago Bears: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

The second Utah tackle to go in the first round, Lomu is the blindside protector of the bunch, and someone who went all of 2025 without allowing a sack. He’s not a particularly dominant run blocker yet, but he’ll help rebuild the Bears at the most prominent weak spot.

30. New England Patriots: Matayo Uiagalelei, DL/EDGE, Oregon

Uiagalelei is most comfortable and most productive off the edge, but he also has the size and experience to bump inside or line up straight against tackles. That’s the kind of versatility that Mike Vrabel’s teams have always thrived with, and the Patriots improve up front as a result.

31. Denver Broncos: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

If anyone’s going to skyrocket up draft boards as more fans and teams get familiar with him this spring, it’s Johnson, maybe the top Group of Five prospect in the class and a remarkably proficient cover corner at that. Johnson was thrown at 43 times in 2025 and only allowed 18 completions. He intercepted four passes and logged five PBUs playing primarily on the perimeter. Teams picking at the top of the second round are furious Johnson didn’t fall a couple more picks.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

Goosby doesn’t have as much tape as some of the top tackles in the class, but what he does have is a 6-foot-7 frame to build around, and some of the best tape from 2025. Goosby earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2025 after taking over his position from 2025 first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL mock draft: Can Titans land top target with No. 6 pick?

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NFL mock draft: Who do Titans pick if they’re outside the top 5?