2026 NFL draft: Mel Kiper Jr. makes his final Tennessee Titans predictions

A little over a week remains until the long-awaited 2026 NFL draft begins. Various mock drafts have been released throughout the previous two months, including several from ESPN's draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Kiper has released one mock draft per month since January, with each of his first three pegging the Tennessee Titans to select a different player. His fourth and final mock draft brought a familiar name to the Titans with the fourth overall selection, with it extending to a two-round mock to include their second-round selection.

First up? Running back Jeremiyah Love.

Will the Titans take the plunge? We haven't seen a running back go this early since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 eight years ago, but Love has the goods to come off the board in the top five. And while the case could easily be made that Tennessee has other, more important holes to fill on its roster, it'd be a mistake to look at Love solely as a traditional running back. He's a playmaker who can put a jolt in the Titans' offense in the backfield with quarterback Cam Ward. Love will break free for home runs, he will haul in tough catches when flexed outside, and he will power over defenders to extend drives.With both of the top edge rushers off the board, we could see a new No. 1 running back ahead of Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Michael Carter in Tennessee.

The Jeremiyah Love discussion of how high he should be drafted and the team selecting him continues to dominate headlines. Mel Kiper made a good point about Love being viewed as a playmaker more than a traditional running back.

Titans Head Coach Robert Saleh mentioned at the NFL Owners Meetings that the team plans to select a game-changer with their top selection. Love's skill set extends beyond just carrying the football, and his explosive game-breaking ability will make him worth the early selection.

While selecting the Doak Walker Award-winning back solves an offensive need, Kiper addressed another need for the Titans on the opposite side of the football in the second round: Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.

There's certainly a chance Lawrence is off the board before Round 2 -- he has risen the board quickly over the past month or so. He had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season, showcasing real closing speed. Tennessee still has a need for edge rushing help, even after trading for Jermaine Johnson.

The Titans solidified their defensive line depth this offseason. However, questions remain about their starting edge rusher position opposite of Jermaine Johnson.

After passing on elite prospects Sonny Styles and Rueben Bain Jr. in Kiper's round one mock, selecting one of the best edge rushers remaining on the board in round two makes total sense. Lawrence's elite athleticism gives him a chance to be selected in the latter half of the first round, so if he falls to the Titans' second-round selection, that would be a steal.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Mel Kiper Jr. makes his final Tennessee Titans predictions