The Tennessee Titans began their 2026 NFL Draft by selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick. They ended it with Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak at 225th overall. Having made eight total selections, general manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Robert Saleh are rebuilding the roster in their vision.
The Titans made several trades throughout the NFL Draft, including getting back into the first round to land defensive end Keldric Faulk at No. 31 overall. With Saleh and Borgonzi having executed their plan, several Titans rookies will place holdover veterans on notice. We’ve identified a bunch in particular.
2026 NFL Draft: Tennessee Titans place seven veterans on notice following rookie additions
Calvin Ridley, WR
The Titans made two major investments at wide receiver this offseason, drafting Tate at no. 4 overall, and paying Wan’Dale Robinson $70 million in free agency. Calvin Ridley stuck around because he agreed to a pay-cut, but the veteran wideout who disappointed in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury is on thin ice. Stuck in a crowded receiver room with three exciting rookies and sophomores, Ridley will have to earn reps this offseason.
Femi Oladejo, EDGE
The Titans got aggressive enough to trade back into the first round for Faulk. Though they’ll play different positions from an alignment perspective, it’s not a great sign for sophomore EDGE Femi Oladejo, who Saleh is inheriting from Borgonzi. If the Titans were totally satisfied with Oladejo’s rookie campaign, they probably wouldn’t have targeted an EDGE so early in the 2026 draft.
Cody Barton, LB
Trading up for Faulk wasn’t the lone sign of aggression from Borgonzi and Saleh. They also traded up for linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., getting themselves back into the second round after initially forfeiting that selection in the Faulk trade-up. With outstanding range, athleticism, length, and instincts, Hill embodies everything Saleh wants in a linebacker. That’s bad news for veteran Cody Barton, who is a peculiar fit in Saleh’s scheme. Barton was signed by Borgonzi last offseason to play in a totally different system.
Elic Ayomanor, WR
Ridley isn’t the only receiver placed on notice by the arrival of Tate. The early expectation is that Tate will play the “X” receiver role in Brian Daboll’s offense. With Ridley, Robinson, and Chimere Dike taking turns at “Z” and slot, Elic Ayomanor may be most impacted. Ayomanor enjoyed a stellar but inconsistent rookie season. Of all the wideouts in Tennessee’s room, he may be in most danger of ending up as WR5.
Cordell Volson, IOL
The Titans entered the NFL Draft without a surefire starter at right guard. They have not re-signed last year’s starter Kevin Zeitler, and Austin Schlottmann and Jackson Slater are expected to battle at center. Borgonzi signed Cordell Volson in free agency, a below-average veteran with 48 career starts inside. The Titans were never going to hand Volson anything, and drafting Arkansas guard Fernando Carmona in the fifth round adds the youthful energy and intrigue that position badly needs right now.
Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, RB
Running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are entering contract years. He’s not Jeremiyah Love, but fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton possesses enough juice and athleticism to make things interesting in the position room. Pollard and Spears aren’t long-term answers in Tennessee’s offense, and the addition of Singleton adds another layer of intrigue to a positional situation worth monitoring.
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