An NFL team obviously wants every prospect it ends up drafting, but with certain players, it’s easy to tell a team really wants them.
So the Tennessee Titans really wanted the two defensive players they landed in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, since they traded up for edge rusher Keldric Faulk of Auburn late in the first round (at pick No. 31) and then linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., of Texas late in the second round (No. 60).
The move up for Faulk wasn’t much. It was only four spots. For Hill Jr., it was nine. But in each instance, there was no disappointment. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi eliminated the risk. The Titans were willing to pay a price to get who they were targeting.
“Our pro department does a great job of studying team needs, teams in front of us, what they need,” Borgonzi explained. “We track teams that have visits with players. There's all sorts of information and intel that you might take into account. ...
“You really don't know. But you try to have as much information as you can with the teams in front of you or even behind you if you can move back and still get that same player.”
Carnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Coach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Edge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.Wide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.From left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.1 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCarnell Tate, left and Keldric Faulk enter the room as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.2 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.3 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkCoach Robert Saleh takes questions as the Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections wide receiver Carnell Tate and edge defender Keldric Faulk at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.4 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkEdge defender Keldric Faulk takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans second draft pick for 2026.5 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.6 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkWide receiver Carnell Tate takes questions at the Titans' practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026. He was the Titans first draft pick for 2026.7 / 7Meet the Titans newest draft picks Carnell Tate and Keldrick FaulkFrom left, general manager Mike Borgonzi, wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk and coach Robert Saleh take questions as The Titans present their first two NFL Draft selections at their practice facility in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, April 24, 2026.Small steps, sure, but the aggression said a couple of things about the Titans these days.
It was encouraging sign, for one, of Borgonzi’s attention to detail and desire to be ahead of the game and not miss out if he could help it. He said they’d been trying to move up for Hill Jr., before pick No. 60, so that wasn’t just spur of the moment.
It was another indication that Robert Saleh, known for outstanding defenses as coach, certainly doesn’t intend to start having bad defenses with the Titans.
From 2019 to 2024, five of the Saleh’s six defenses – either as a DC or head coach – finished in NFL’s top five. Saleh’s final three defenses as Jets head coach were fourth, third and third in the league.
Saleh’s hire is why the Titans’ picking wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 was so surprising. Once Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love went at No. 3, it seemed a given that the Titans would go for Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles, two prominent Ohio State defensive players they’d been linked with for months.
After they went with a Buckeyes player on the other side of the football, Saleh was asked about his role in the Titans going offense with his first pick as their coach.
“Well,” Saleh replied, “not to say it’s the most important piece, but he’s a pretty damn important piece, and that's the quarterback. And doing everything we can to help him and surround him with players who can get the ball in their hand and go score. …
“When we got to 4,” he added, “it was a very easy decision to make.”
Saleh coaches the offense, too, though it shouldn't go unnoticed that after grabbing an offensive guy at No. 4, Borgonzi traded up for defensive players with the next two picks.
In free agency, the Titans had already splurged on DL John Franklin-Myers, CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott after trading for Jermaine Johnson on the edge. These won’t be instant fixes, but they are upgrades.
Same for the two defensive players taken on the first two nights of this NFL draft.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: With Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans getting serious about defense