2026 NFL draft: Should Tennessee Titans trade down from No. 4?

It’s hard to believe, but in only a matter of days, all of the offseason speculation will be behind us. The 2026 NFL draft will officially be underway in Pittsburgh, and, once and for all, fans will see how their favorite teams approach the process.

For the Tennessee Titans, who are in the midst of a complete rebuild, the upcoming draft is an important cog in their process, and general manager Mike Borgonzi must at least match the quality of his first draft in 2025, where he selected multiple starters and key depth pieces.

The Titans have done a good job retooling the roster in free agency, but they still have some needs to address. How they do that this year remains a mystery, but if you ask ESPN analyst Bill Barwell, the answer is simple: Trade back.

Tennessee Titans: Trade down from No. 4

A rebuilding Titans team doesn't have much to show for years of neglect after peaking under former coach Mike Vrabel. There's nobody left on this roster from the draft classes of 2020, 2021, or 2022. The 2023 class delivered a Pro Bowl-caliber guard in Peter Skoronski, but the only other draftees left from that year are backups Will Levis and Tyjae Spears. And the 2024 class isn't looking hot, given that JC Latham has struggled in pass protection at both left and right tackle, and second-round pick T'Vondre Sweat was traded for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (who is entering the final year of his deal).

The Titans understandably want to surround quarterback Cam Ward with premium talent at No. 4, but this roster is riddled with holes or short-term free agent patches. If the Titans can move down into the bottom half of the top 10 and pick up another second-round pick, that's a move general manager Mike Borgonzi should seriously consider. Tennessee simply has too many issues to fix throughout its roster to focus on adding one particular player early in the draft.

While it's true that the Titans had a string of dismal drafts early in this decade, there should be some optimism with the direction the new regime under Borgonzi has accomplished in a short period of time. Not to mention, it has widely been discussed that the Titans' rebuild will not happen overnight.

There is no doubt that Borgonzi is in a tough position. Yes, trading back to acquire more draft picks and capital would help the rebuild, but passing on game-changing, elite talent just to fill needs and add extra mid-round picks doesn’t lead to championships.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Should Tennessee Titans trade down from No. 4?