Hold onto your helmets, NFL fans. The Tennessee Titans are cooking up a draft strategy that could blow up the conventional playbook. Fresh off a significant trade, whispers are growing into a full-blown rumor: the Titans might just use their coveted fourth overall selection on a running back.
This potential bombshell follows a busy week in Nashville. The Titans swung a deal to acquire Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson from the New York Jets, sending defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat the other way. The move reunites Johnson with his former Jets coach, Robert Saleh, now leading the Titans. Johnson thrived under Saleh in 2023, notching 55 tackles, 16 QB hits, and 7.5 sacks.
With a major defensive piece now in the fold, the Titans' front office appears to be shifting its first-round gaze to the offensive side of the ball. And the name generating the most buzz is Notre Dame's dynamic playmaker, Jeremiyah Love.
Is Love the Draft's "Best Player"?
According to insider chatter, the Titans' brass believes Love isn't just the top running back in this class—they view him as the "best player" available, period. That lofty evaluation makes him a legitimate contender for the No. 4 spot, a notion that would upend modern draft strategy, which typically shies away from taking backs so high.
Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi didn't hide his admiration for Love at the recent NFL Combine. "Any time you can get a running back like that, especially a three-down back who can impact the pass game and take over, it's special," Borgonzi stated. He drew a direct comparison to Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs, praising Love's game-changing speed, versatility to line up anywhere, and ability to handle a full workload. "It's the speed and the ability to play on three downs... they're tough," he emphasized.
A Proven Track Record of Production
The hype around Love is built on a rock-solid college career at Notre Dame. He amassed a staggering 2,882 rushing yards, added 594 receiving yards, and found the end zone 42 times. There's no debate: he is the premier running back prospect entering the league.
But is a top-five pick justified for the position? New head coach Robert Saleh, having just coached a season with Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, understands the transformative power of an elite, every-down back. "I think he had over 400 touches," Saleh said of McCaffrey. "If they are three-down players who can create mismatches on the perimeter and run the ball... they're tremendous assets to the football team." Saleh also mentioned Gibbs as another example of a back worthy of high investment.
Of course, there's always the possibility of gamesmanship. The Titans could be inflating Love's stock to lure a trade partner desperate to move up for a quarterback or top wide receiver. By making their interest in a running back seem genuine, they might force another team's hand, creating a more favorable trade market for their pick.
Whether it's a genuine belief in a generational talent or a masterful smokescreen, the Titans have positioned themselves at the center of the draft's biggest pre-draft mystery. All eyes will be on Nashville when the clock starts ticking on April 25th to see if they truly pull the trigger on a move that would redefine their offense and stun the football world.
