The Tennessee Titans are in a different kind of place now.
After the trade deadline and the move of DT Jeffery Simmons, Nashville’s team picked up two defensive veterans and turned them into two first-round picks and one second-round selection overall. That kind of return changes the conversation fast. With Tennessee sitting at 1-7 and coming out of the bye to face the division-leading Jacksonville Jaguars, the focus has shifted hard toward what comes next.
So if Titans fans are already thinking ahead to the 2027 draft, there are five names worth learning now.
Dylan Stewart is the one who could end up dominating the conversation. The South Carolina EDGE has looked like one of the best defensive-line prospects in college football, and he’s been one of the Gamecocks’ most dependable playmakers for three seasons.
His footwork is clean, his first step is quick, and this year he’s added two sacks and three forced fumbles to the résumé. PFF has him projected as a top-10 pick, and if Tennessee is sitting there with its first selection, Stewart could easily become the favorite.
If Stewart is gone, Texas EDGE Colin Simmons is right there waiting. He already flashed in a huge way against Tennessee earlier this season, when he piled up 5.5 sacks in one game.
He has 10.5 sacks on the year despite missing two games, and his speed and disruption off the edge may be the best in the class. Even with the ankle sprain, he looks like the kind of pass rusher who can change a defense the moment he steps on the field.
Those two are the premium defensive names, and either one could be in play if Tennessee goes defense early. If the Titans want to attack the top of the board, fans should be ready for both Stewart and Simmons to be discussed as possible picks as high as No. 2 overall.
The offensive name to know is Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy. He’s the only back on this list, and he projects as a late first-round option for Tennessee.
Florida star Jadan Baugh is likely to be off the board by the time the Chicago Bears’ first-rounder lands in the Titans’ hands, which would leave Lacy as the top remaining back in that range. He’s dealing with a left-shoulder injury right now, but the production speaks loudly.
In his healthy 2025 season with Ole Miss, he ran 306 times for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns. Even in limited action this season, he’s still put up 388 yards and five scores.
With Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both entering free agency after this season, the backfield could be headed for a reset if neither returns.
Another Ole Miss defender belongs on the radar too. DT Will Echoles is ESPN’s highest-ranked defensive tackle on the board, and he could be a direct answer if Tennessee wants to find life after Simmons.
At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Echoles moves better than you’d expect for his size. He has 2.5 sacks this season, and last year he finished with five sacks and 68 total tackles.
He may not be the flashiest tackle in the class, but he brings steady pressure and could be exactly the kind of dependable interior piece the Titans need.
Then there’s Tennessee Volunteers DT Gilliam, the “next guy” in that same conversation. He’s right there with Echoles at the position, and on paper he may be the more explosive player.
Through nine games this season, Gilliam has six sacks and two forced fumbles, a huge jump from the half-sack he posted with Penn State in 2025. His burst is obvious, and he’s risen fast enough to become one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in the country.
He doesn’t have the same track record as Echoles, but by the time the college season ends, he could be viewed even more strongly.
For Titans fans, these are the names to start filing away now. The rebuild is here, and the draft board is already taking shape.
In Other News...
Titans Could Face One Huge WR Decision With Jeremiah Smith
The Titans are already being linked to another Ohio State receiver, and this one comes with a much bigger spotlight attached. After taking Carnell Tate, Tennessee is being mentioned as a possible fit for Jeremiah Smith in the 2027 NFL draft, a conversation that naturally starts with the state of the roster and how much more help the passing game may still need by then.
Smiths college production has only added to the intrigue, and for Tennessee the question is less about whether he would draw interest than how a move like that would reshape the receiver room. It is still a speculative exercise at this stage, but it is the kind of long-view decision that can define how a team stacks young talent and balances need against opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Were Quietly Pulled Into A Trade Deadline Running Back Story
After the NFL trade deadline, the Giants were still doing some due diligence at running back, and one of the names that surfaced in the process was Tony Pollard. New York reportedly reached out to the Titans about Pollard as part of a broader search that also included calls to Atlanta on Bijan Robinson and Baltimore on Justice Hill, a sign the market for backfield help had been active even as the deadline approached.
The Giants also tried to work out a deal for Jonathan Taylor before pulling back when the Colts pushed for a higher draft pick, leaving them to reset their plans at the position. For Tennessee, Pollards inclusion in that discussion is another reminder that his name still carries value around the league, even with Cam Skattebo expected to slide back into his primary role once he returns from a hamstring injury. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Opened A Long Term Question In The Secondary
The Titans moved on from Amani Hooker in a deal with Buffalo, sending the veteran safety and a fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for a second-round selection. It was a notable shift for a defense that had counted on Hookers presence in the back end, and it immediately changes the shape of Tennessees secondary as the team looks to redistribute snaps and responsibility.
Kevin Winston Jr. and Tony Adams are the names expected to step into the starting safety roles, but the move also opens a longer-range question about how Tennessee plans to keep that spot stocked. With the 2027 NFL Draft already coming into view, prospects such as Kingston Lopa, Jaylen McClain and Brauntae Johnson could become part of the conversation as the Titans try to find the next answer at safety. [Read more 🡒]