Titans Draft Tracker: SEC LBs and WRs Climbing the Board

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.

With the trade deadline looming and the Titans in full-on selling mode, draft needs can change. Does the entire roster need more talent? Yes. But if names like Jeffery Simmons, Tony Pollard or Dan Moore get moved, then draft focus might shift for Tennessee.

Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) grabs a pass against Vanderbilt during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama WR Germie Bernard/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

More likely, though, Dre’Mont Jones, Kevin Zeitler, Chig Okonkwo or Sebastian Joseph-Day are traded. Those moves don’t change the Titans' draft strategy.

Pass rusher, cornerback and wide receiver still feel like the Titans' top needs. Running back, offensive line and linebacker are still obvious secondary needs.

Hill wrecks MSU, hosts Vandy

Anthony Hill (6-3, 240) was the top off-ball linebacker in the draft class entering the season. He has not played up to that potential until last weekend. The talented and versatile defender

posted 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks and nine pressures according to PFF in Texas' comeback win over Mississippi State.

The Longhorns are still fighting for a playoff spot and will host Diego Pavia and Vandy this week. Hill's ability to play behind the line of scrimmage will be critical to slowing down the Commodores. Facing future NFL tight end Eli Stowers is also an intriguing test of the Longhorns' defense. 

Could he be a Titans' target early in the draft? As he’s not a true pass rusher, probably not. But he’s an incredible talent and would be a perfect fit for the Titans should they have an extra pick somewhere (after trading down).

Vintage Lawson starting to show

Another SEC off-ball linebacker who is being used to pressure quarterbacks is Alabama’s Deontae Lawson. He also got off to a slow start this season after tearing his ACL last year. But like Hill, Lawson exploded last weekend and flashed his first-round talent. 

The 6-2, 230-pounder is the leader of the Tide defense as he made critical plays in the win over South Carolina. He forced a game-saving fumble on LaNorris Sellers late in the fourth quarter, capping an extraordinary game. He posted seven tackles and four QB pressures on just nine pass rush snaps (per PFF). He is second on the team in tackles and is surging into November.

Another Week, Another WR1?

Washington’s Denzel Boston and Alabama’s Germie Bernard have both been mentioned among the top receivers in this class and both dominated in key spots last weekend.

Boston (6-4, 210) had a career day with 10 receptions for 153 yards and two TDs in a critical win over Illinois. His 89.1 PFF grade was the highest in the Big Ten last week. He can be used all over the formation and in all aspects of the game thanks to his size.

Bernard (6-1, 205) wasn’t as prolific through the air (5 rec, 54 yds, TD) but is showing his versatility. He has rushed seven times for 72 yards and a TD over the last two weeks as Bama gets creative with their star wideout.

Neither Bernard nor Boston is ahead of Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson as WR1, but both are first-round picks and have closed the gap.

Additionally, Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion went head-to-head with the draft's CB1 (Mansoor Delane) and was solid. He only caught three passes for 45 yards but caught a touchdown and returned a punt 80 yards for a second score. He’s undersized at 5-11 and 190 pounds, so he may not be a first-round pick, but he won’t last long once Day Two begins.

Penn State at Ohio State

Draft nerds out there will love this one even if the playoff shine is gone. Ohio State boasts four potential first-round picks and 13 prospects in the top 300, according to the Consensus Big Board. Penn State has seven top 100 players and 11 ranked in the top 300. 

For the Titans, watch the battle between Buckeyes wideouts Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith with Nittany Lions corner AJ Harris.

On the other side, two extremely talented running backs in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will face possibly the most talented front in football. Linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles (as well as safety Caleb Downs) are all first-round picks and will be charged with stopping the Penn State rushing attack. 

Oklahoma at Tennessee

Take the over in Knoxville on Saturday night (56.5) as points should be plentiful. Some of that is because the best NFL prospect in the game still has yet to play for Tennessee this season. Jermod McCoy could be CB1 and someone the Titans are very interested in, but is recovering from a late-season torn ACL. He returned to the practice field this week, though many believe he won’t play at all this year.

Fellow top 50 corner Colton Hood should play, however, and is worth a long look this week against John Mateer, Deion Burks and Jaren Kanak. Additionally, Joshua Josephs is a top 50 outside linebacker prospect for UT and will also be trying to get the mobile Mateer to the ground.

 
 
 
 
 
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On the other side, wideout Chris Brazzell has had an excellent season and is a big play waiting to happen. He and quarterback Joey Aguilar have been in sync all season but facing R Mason Thomas and that Oklahoma front line could create problems. He’s only a freshman but right tackle David Sanders is worth watching this week against Thomas and Co.

His movement skills, agility, size and technique are already generating talk about his chances to go No. 1 in a few years.