Titans Draft Radar: Skill Talent Rising, Edge Depth Complicates Top-3 Math

By BRADEN GALL, college contributor

Each week, 440 Sports’ Braden Gall dives into the most important matchups and developments from the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Going into the season, the wide receiver class in the 2026 NFL Draft was solid and deep but lacking in high-end elite first-round talent. The Titans' glaring needs at edge rusher seemed to outweigh anything on offense, especially after drafting two wideouts and a tight end last year and with Calvin Ridley coming off a 1,000-yard season.

That might be changing as the offense continues to struggle. Obviously, the Titans should probably take the best available player in the draft. However, should they finish with a top-

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) leaps over Penn State cornerback Jalen Kimber (3) during a 28-yard touchdown reception in the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq in last year's Big Ten title game/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

three pick, adding talent around Cam Ward might be a smarter option than previously believed.

And this class of skill players is far intriguing than previously believed, especially for a team

that should actively look to trade down from the top three to add a haul of potential picks. Miami’s Rueben Bain has easily been the best edge player in college football, but is he worth three or four extra picks?

Sadiq The Freak

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is an incredible player to watch. A slightly bigger and more traditional Brock Bowers, Sadiq did everything on Saturday night in the road upset over Penn State. He is an incredible blocker. He caught six passes for 49 yards and showed off his extraordinary athleticism on this critical 2-point conversion. The 6-3, 250-pounder is likely inching his way into the top 10. 

Speaking of Freaks

This might be the best clip you see in this article all season and is only a few yards from being historically great. Bama split out elite tackle prospect Kadyn Proctor and threw him the ball.

Chaos ensued near the end of the first half of Bama’s upset win over Georgia. Proctor started poorly against Florida State but has slowly proven why he was OT1 entering the season. 

What is going on under center?

LaNorris Sellers has been hurt. Garrett Nussmeier is injured. Cade Klubnik has been atrocious. Arch Manning isn’t quite there yet. Fernando Mendoza has been the best QB in the game. Dante Moore, John Mateer and Ty Simpson aren’t far behind Mendoza and are this year’s biggest draft risers.

Drew Allar will be a fine pro and he’s been fine but fine maybe isn’t good enough in this class. Sam Leavitt had a slow start to the year but delivered big-time throws in two fourth-quarter wins in a row. Josh Hoover, Aiden Chiles and Carson Beck have been excellent as well. 

The quality and depth of this class at the top of the first round will dictate how much return Tennessee could get on a trade at the top of the 2026 draft.

Caden Curry explodes in Seattle

The Buckeyes' defense is loaded and two of the biggest draft risers through five weeks have been edge rushers in Columbus. Defensive end Caden Curry (6-3, 260) and linebacker Arvell Reese (6-4, 245) are flying up draft boards due to elite length, range, athleticism and production. 

Curry won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after posting 11 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 5.0 TFL in the road win over Washington and dynamic quarterback Demond Williams. Reese was quieter this weekend but still has 25 tackles and pair of sacks on the season.

Big stages for big-time WRs

Makai Lemon continues his torrid season for USC. After 11 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns against No. 22 Illinois, Lemon now leads the nation with 589 yards. He is squarely a first-round pick.

Chris Brazell is second in college football with 531 yards after another afternoon of highlight reel catches for Tennessee. He caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in the overtime win over Mississippi State.

Both Carnell Tate of Ohio State (3 rec., 33 yds) and Denzel Boston of Washington (3 rec., 26 yds) were held in check in the Pacific Northwest Big Ten showdown. Presumptive WR1 Jordyn Tyson caught eight passes for 126 yards and two scores in Arizona State’s critical Big 12 win over TCU.

It’s a wide-open race to top this WR class and the Titans need to be looking for a difference maker at the position. This group may not have a Jeremiah Smith-type talent, but it has an intriguing variety of receivers projected to be first-round picks.

Texas at Florida

Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill is a 6-3, 240-pound missile. He is a rare combo-backer who can play sideline to sideline off the ball as well as he can rush the passer. Florida’s offensive line is very talented but has struggled most of the year, so Hill could find space to attack DJ Lagway this weekend.

The rest of the match-up is fantastic as more than 10 draft prospects will be roaming Ben Hill Griffin Stadium against the preseason No. 1 team.