The Tennessee Titans find themselves in a pivotal position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, currently holding the No. 3 overall pick. That’s a slight slide from the top spot they were slated for before a Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns nudged them down the board. Still, it’s a premium pick - and with glaring needs at key positions like EDGE and wide receiver, Tennessee has a real opportunity to reshape its roster in a big way.
Let’s start with the pass rush. Most mock drafts since early in the college football season have pegged the Titans to go EDGE in Round 1 - and that makes a ton of sense.
Outside of rookie Femi Oladejo, who’s under contract through 2026, the Titans’ depth chart at EDGE is set to thin out fast. Veterans Arden Key and Jihad Ward are both on expiring deals, leaving the cupboard pretty bare in terms of proven talent.
One name that’s been frequently linked to Tennessee is Miami Hurricanes EDGE Rueben Bain. Early on, Bain looked like a natural fit - a high-motor pass rusher with the kind of production and pedigree that gets front offices excited.
But as the season wore on, the buzz around Bain started to cool. And now, it’s not just a matter of fit - it's a question of whether he’s even a first-rounder anymore.
According to multiple scouting reports, including a recent note from NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler, Bain is now viewed by many teams as a Day 2 prospect - think second or third round. That’s a significant drop from where he was projected just a few months ago.
The biggest concerns? Size and positional fit.
At 6-foot-2, 277 pounds with 30 3/4-inch arms and 9 1/4-inch hands, Bain doesn’t have the prototypical length or frame teams look for in a true edge defender. Some evaluators are even projecting him as a better fit on the interior - more of a defensive tackle than an outside pass rusher. That’s a tough sell for a team like Tennessee, which is clearly looking for a game-changer off the edge.
And it’s not just about measurables. Bain’s production has also dipped late in the season - he’s sitting at just 4.5 sacks on the year.
That’s not the kind of stat line that typically screams “Top 5 pick.” His tape from the second half of the season hasn’t helped either, with fewer splash plays and a noticeable drop in impact.
Now, to be fair, arm length isn’t everything. Players like Nik Bonitto and Aidan Hutchinson faced similar questions coming out of college, and both have gone on to become highly effective pass rushers at the next level. But the difference is, Bain’s measurements are even more limiting - and unlike Hutchinson, he hasn’t put together the kind of dominant college resume that can override those concerns.
So where does that leave the Titans? If they’re still aiming to address EDGE in the first round - and all signs point to that being a priority - names like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk could start to rise on their board. Both bring the kind of size, athleticism, and upside that teams crave in a top-tier pass rusher.
As for Bain, the idea of him landing in Tennessee with that No. 3 pick is fading fast. Once a popular projection, he now looks more like a long shot for the top of the draft. The Titans still have plenty of scouting to do, but one thing’s becoming clear: if they’re going EDGE early, Rueben Bain is no longer the frontrunner.