The Tennessee Titans are being slotted for another step in the rebuild, and ESPN’s latest 2027 NFL mock draft has them using a top-10 pick on the defensive side of the ball.
In Jordan Reid’s projection, Tennessee lands South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart at No. 6 overall. That would put the Titans in position to take the first defensive player in the mock, a reflection of both where the roster stands and how Reid sees the draft board breaking.
The setup around that pick says plenty about Tennessee’s current outlook. Reid has the Titans finishing with the sixth-worst record in the league, with no trades altering their draft slot. That leaves them behind the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders - a group that is also rebuilding, with four of those teams still trying to solve the quarterback spot.
For Tennessee, the 2026 class already brought quarterback Cam Ward and wide receiver Carnell Tate, and Tony Pollard is back as the lead running back. The bigger question remains who emerges as the best defensive pieces on the roster.
Reid’s explanation for Stewart centers on upside and need. “Even though they picked Keldric Faulk in Round 1 in April, the Titans could use more edge-rush help, especially with Jermaine Johnson II entering the final year of his contract.
Few edge-rush prospects have ever possessed Stewart's blend of upfield acceleration, bend and closing speed. The production has yet to match the potential, as Stewart had only 4.5 sacks last season, but the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder has rare tools and already has teams giddy about what he could develop into at the NFL level.”
That said, the fit isn’t exactly clean on paper. Stewart has not yet put together a productive college season, and Tennessee’s biggest need is for pass rushers who have already shown they can get to the quarterback. Whether the Titans go that direction in 2027 will depend on how their pass rush looks this season and how strong the edge class turns out to be.
Robert Saleh’s presence matters here, too. As a defensive-minded coach, he is going to want an elite defense. And while edge rusher is one obvious route, the Titans would still have other defensive options if they end up picking in that range.
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