The Tennessee Titans are heading into their bye at 1-7, and while the record says plenty, the first season under Robert Saleh has still brought a few signs of progress. For a young roster, that matters. It also makes this a good checkpoint for the 2026 draft class, which has already had a real hand in shaping the season.
Back in April, the Titans’ eight picks drew a wide range of reactions across the media landscape, with grades stretching from an A+ to a C-. Eight games later, the picture is clearer on some players and still cloudy on others.
Carnell Tate remains the headliner of the group. The rookie receiver has become Tennessee’s top wideout and looks like a long-term fit in the passing game.
That said, it hasn’t been a clean ride. Tate has dealt with drops, ball-security issues, and some nagging injuries, but nothing that appears likely to stop his rise as he keeps building confidence.
His grade stays where it started: B+.
Keldric Faulk has taken a slower path. The Titans knew he was raw and that development would take time, and that’s exactly how it has played out.
He has been limited in the rotation, though there have been signs he’s trending up. A preseason shoulder injury slowed him early, but he has started to come on, and the final grade could still improve by season’s end.
For now, he drops from an A- to a C.
Anthony Hill Jr. has been one of the more immediate hits. He made an impact right away in the opener, grabbed the chance in front of him, and never gave it back.
Hill plays fast and physical, even if there have been some coverage issues along the way. As a rookie green-dot linebacker, he’s only going to get better with more reps.
His November grade settles at an A, down just a notch from the original A+.
Fernando Carmona looked like a steal almost immediately. He came into camp, won the starting right guard job, and gave the offensive line a physical edge.
Then a foot injury against the New York Giants in Week 3 sent him to injured reserve. Even with the short sample, the pick has already paid off.
His grade rises from a B- to an A.
Nick Singleton’s season has gone the other direction. The rookie back flashed in camp and preseason, but issues in blitz pickup have cut into his role and left him inactive at times. There’s still time for that to change, and the grade could move again before the season ends, but right now it sits at a C after starting at an A.
The late-round group is still mostly waiting for its chance. Jackie Marshall made the roster out of camp, but he has not played a snap in 2026 and has been a healthy scratch, leaving him as an incomplete.
Pat Coogan has seen only 25 snaps through eight games, all on special teams, though Austin Schlottmann’s struggles at center could open the door for more work in the second half. He, too, remains incomplete.
Jaren Kanak’s story is the simplest of the bunch. He showed some flashes early in training camp, then suffered a season-ending injury and landed on injured reserve. That leaves him with an incomplete as well.
In Other News...
Titans Fans Can Breathe After Latest Trade Deadline Stance
After moving defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears for future draft picks, the Titans could have easily entered the rest of the season as a team open for more deals. Instead, the latest read on the deadline suggests Tennessee is drawing a line with safety Amani Hooker, a player who has become even more important to the defense since Simmons departure.
Hookers value has only grown with the way he has played this season, and the Titans reinforced that by naming him a defensive captain after the Simmons trade. With other teams showing interest, Tennessee appears intent on keeping one of its most reliable defenders in place as it tries to steady a unit that has already lost a major piece. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Could Sway A Playoff Race With One Trade Deadline Choice
The trade deadline is starting to look like a place where the Titans could matter well beyond their own standings, with the NFC North looming as one of the leagues most active and tightly packed divisions. Green Bay and Minnesota have already surfaced in rumors tied to Jonathan Taylor, while Detroits injury situation has left it searching for help at linebacker and the Packers have been linked to a possible kicker move. For Tennessee, that kind of market gives the front office a chance to do more than simply shop its own roster.
One name to watch is linebacker Cody Barton, who could fit the kind of need a contender is trying to solve on the fly. If the Titans decide to move him, it would not just be a roster decision in Nashville, it could ripple through a playoff race where the right addition at the right spot might matter more than usual. The deadline always creates a few surprises, but this one has the feel of a choice that could help shape the balance of power in the NFC North. [Read more 🡒]
Titans May Be Watching Another Costly Receiver Situation Unfold
Calvin Ridleys first season in Tennessee has already turned into one of the bigger disappointments on the roster, and the Titans may be staring at another expensive receiver decision before long. Signed to a four-year, $92 million deal in 2024, Ridley has not delivered the kind of impact the team expected, which has pushed him into the trade conversation as the deadline approaches.
Wan'Dale Robinson is now facing a different kind of uncertainty. The Titans brought him in on a four-year, $70 million contract, and while he has had a few encouraging moments, he has not made enough of a consistent imprint on the offense. With younger receivers earning more snaps and the staff continuing to sort out his role, Robinsons place in the long-term plan is suddenly looking less secure. [Read more 🡒]