The Price of a Powerhouse
Tennessee didn’t just move up; they paid a premium to ensure they landed the most versatile weapon in the class. To jump from No. 4 to No. 2, the Titans shipped their original first-rounder, the No. 35 pick, and a fourth-rounder (No. 101) to the Meadowlands. It’s a massive bet on Love, who torched defenses in 2025 with a 90.5 PFF rushing grade and nearly 5.0 yards after contact per attempt.
For a Titans offense searching for an identity around young quarterback Cam Ward, Love provides an immediate solution. He isn’t just a runner. His 10/10 big-play speed and natural hands make him a nightmare in space. The Nashville crowd has been begging for a home-run hitter since the twilight of the Derrick Henry era. Love is that threat. He hits the hole and the stadium holds its breath.
Wide Receivers Take Over the Top 10
While the Titans grabbed the headlines with their trade, the depth of this receiver class dominated the middle of the top 10. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon both heard their names called early, proving the league’s obsession with perimeter speed shows no signs of slowing down.
- Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State): Landing at No. 7 to the Washington Commanders, Tate gives Jayden Daniels the “Z” receiver he lacked during a disappointing 2025 campaign. Tate’s ability to win contested catches in the Big Ten makes him a Day 1 starter.
- Makai Lemon (WR, USC): The Biletnikoff winner didn’t slide far. The Cincinnati Bengals snagged him at No. 10, potentially forming a terrifying trio with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
The draft energy in Pittsburgh is already electric. Fans are lining the Monongahela River just to catch a glimpse of the stage builds. With two elite wideouts in the top 10 and a top-five trade for a running back, the 2026 class is bucking recent trends that devalued “skill” positions in favor of the trenches.
“We knew we had to be aggressive. Jeremiyah is a rare breed. You don’t see that combination of vision and 4.3 speed often. He changes our math on every single snap.”
— Mike Borgonzi, Titans General Manager
Draft Fallout: What’s Next
The Jets now hold a treasure chest of picks, including four of the top 50. By sliding to No. 4, they still landed Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, a “cyborg” athlete who many scouts believe is the best overall defender in the draft. This move allowed New York to fix their defense while stockpiling capital for a 2027 quarterback run if their current veteran experiment fails.
For Tennessee, the pressure shifts to the offensive line. Trading away pick No. 35 means they must find a starting-caliber tackle in the later rounds or rely on the remaining free-agent scraps. If Love is constantly meeting linebackers in the backfield, the trade will be scrutinized. But if he finds the corner? The AFC South just got a lot faster.
