ESPN predicts Titans will draft edge rusher in first round of 2027 NFL Draft

There is no question that this season is a rebuilding year for the Tennessee Titans . Quarterback Cam Ward needs another year to develop, and he can work on developing chemistry with Tennessee's first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, wide receiver Carnell Tate. Tony Pollard is back for another year as the lead running back, while they must also figure out who their best defensive players are.

But it is never too early to look to the future at the 2027 NFL Draft. In ESPN 's mock draft from analyst Jordan Reid, Tennessee is projected to pick edge rusher Dylan Stewart out of South Carolina with the No. 6 overall pick.

First, it's worth noting when the Titans are projected to make their pick. There are no projected trades affecting when Tennessee is selecting their pick, meaning Reid is predicting the Titans to finish the year as the sixth-worst team in the NFL.

Honestly, it is surprising they are outside of the top five since they are still rebuilding. However, it makes sense when considering the teams ahead of them - the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders. All five teams are also rebuilding, and four of them are still trying to figure out who their franchise quarterback will be.

Selecting an edge rusher wouldn't be a bad idea, but it seems unlikely the player will be Dylan Stewart, who has yet to have a productive season in college. Tennessee needs players who have proven they can generate pressure and get sacks; Stewart does not fit that bill. Nonetheless, Jordan Reid believes that is who the Titans will select, and here is his justification for this prediction:

"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."

Whether or not they want to select an edge rusher will depend on how their pass rush performs this season and also how deep of an edge rusher class there is in this draft. Robert Saleh is a defensive-minded coach, so he will want an elite defense. Still, there will be other defensive options, especially since in this mock draft, the Titans are the first team to take a defensive player, which is entirely possible given the teams ahead of them and their needs.