The Titans had a golden chance to secure a high first-round selection but dominated the Week 9 proceedings in Nashville against the moribund Patriots. As a result, Tennessee holds the ninth overall selection heading into a road tilt against the Chargers.
According to Tankathon, the Titans are a passel of two-win teams jockeying for draft positions. They are mere percentage points in terms of the strength of schedule metric from flying into the top five. Who could they take in this midseason mock draft? How should GM Ran Carthon and company choose to rebuild the Tennessee Titans franchise into a new dawn?
Note: This projection used the draft simulator at Pro Football Focus and the NFL Mock Draft Database
Tennessee Titans Midseason Mock Draft: A New Dawn
With the Titans falling to the ninth selection, Carthon boldly plays to move up for a new franchise passer. Will Levis has been injured, and Mason Rudolph hasn’t performed up to snuff. After making progress last week, Levis is on track to return this week against the rampant Chargers.
The Trade:
Carolina Panthers receive 1.9, 2025 4th Round Pick (via Kansas City), 2026 1st Round Pick and 2026 4th Round Pick.
Tennessee Titans receive 1.4, 5.145, 6.183, and 2026 5th Round Pick.
1.4: Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado
Sanders is arguably the best quarterback in an underrated 2025 class. He has the “it” factor as a passer but sometimes plays hero ball due to an inconsistent offensive line. Colorado is a much-improved team this season, especially along the trenches, which has helped Sanders take the next step. He has the mental side of the position in lockstep with his physical capabilities.
While he doesn’t have the strongest arm, he is accurate to all three levels of the field. College football is in a new NIL era, and Sanders is the face of it. Tennessee has sent scouts to three of his games thus far, so the connection is there. With this selection, Tennessee moves on from its embattled young starter and begins a new era in Nashville. PFF grades him as the seventh-best quarterback with an overall score of 91.1.
The Titans, sensing an opportunity to recoup some selections given up to trade for a potential franchise-altering passer, trade down with the retooling Bears in a minor deal.
The Trade:
Chicago receives: 2.40
Tennessee receives: 2.49, 2026 3rd Round Pick, and 2025 7th Round Pick
2.49 Blake Miller, OT – Clemson
Tennessee desperately needs a solution at right tackle after searching deep within its Rolodex and going in a merry-go-round of horrid RT play. Miller could be that solution for the Titans. He’s a solid athlete who can move well laterally and is a powerhouse blocker. The current starter has been a right tackle exclusive player since his freshman season, so there won’t be any transition between positions.
He’s a junior and could stay in school for a senior season, but for this exercise, he is in the draft class. A road grader who hasn’t missed any time due to injury and is consistent. He sports a 79.1 pass block grade from PFF. The Titans get another building block to help their young franchise quarterback.
4.110 (via Seattle) Kyle Kennard, EDGE – South Carolina
Kennard has exploded onto the scene as a fifth-year senior transfer for the Gamecocks. He transferred to South Carolina from Georgia Tech after four relatively quiet campaigns in Atlanta. While the tackle numbers are down, the sack numbers steadily rise this season. Tennessee needs EDGE help after the team flirted with trading the inconsistent Arden Key.
South Carolina’s star is currently a steady and reliable prospect who has posted consecutive overall defensive grades in the 70s. His pass rush grade has jumped considerably to 84.3 from 73.7 in 2023. While this pass rusher won’t remind anyone of Jadaveon Clowney, he can be a consistent force like Harold Landry. Watch for him to be a riser during the offseason process.
4.115 Ricky White, WR – UNLV
The uber-productive Rebels star has seen his 2024 season start in bouts of inconsistency. White is an unheralded prospect who deserves more praise as a ball handler with great athleticism. He should rise up the board after the offseason process is complete. He leads the Rebels in their famed Go-Go Offense helmed by OC Brennan Marion and is a legitimate threat to make it onto the Biletnikoff list.
Tennessee needs receiver help as Treylon Burks is injured and is trending to leave the team quickly. DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Chiefs for a pittance and thriving. White would slot in nicely behind Calvin Ridley and the eternal WR1 Nick Westbrook-Ihkine. Depending on free agency, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Titans double-dip at the position.
5.143 Jay Higgins, LB – Iowa
The Titans have questions at linebacker to answer next to Kenneth Murray as a newly acquired Jerome Baker is on an expiring contract. Jack Gibbens is the current starter but lacks the athleticism to start consistently in the league. Rookie Cedric Gray is unproven after serving a long stint on injured reserve. Higgins is one of the best off-ball linebacker prospects in the class, with immense production.
PFF rates him highly with consecutive overall defense scores over 89 to date. He’s also an excellent coverage linebacker, posting grades in the 90s in that regard. Tennessee would do well to draft a linebacker of his caliber in the fifth round.
5.145 (via New York Giants) Andrew Mukuba, S – Texas
One former Longhorns safety leaves, and another enters Nashville. Quandre Diggs is injured and is a free agent at season’s end. The Titans’ depth chart at safety is dire and needs an upgrade due to injury and ineffectiveness. Mukuba transferred to Texas from Clemson, where he was a rock for the Tigers, for his final collegiate season.
Primarily a free safety by trade, he does have reps as a cornerback. He’s an outstanding athlete but could refine some tackling issues. The Texas defensive back could be a chess piece for DC Dennard Wilson. As Michael Griffin, Jamal Adams, Diggs, and Kenny Vaccaro play or have played in Nashville, it has been a haven for former Texas safeties.
Main Photo Courtesy of Ron Chenoy – Imagn Images
