The Tennessee Titans may have found their future anchor on the offensive line—and it came in the form of a sixth-round pick. Pat Coogan, a versatile lineman who played at both Notre Dame and Indiana, is entering training camp with a real shot at winning the starting center job. And if history tells us anything, it's that you shouldn't sleep on a sixth-round center.

Think back to Jason Kelce. The future Hall of Famer was selected 191st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. His pre-draft scouting report flatly stated he didn't have the size or power to project as an NFL starter. All he did was start 16 games as a rookie, earn seven Pro Bowl nods, six first-team All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl ring. Sound familiar?

Fast forward to 2026, and the Titans are hoping for a similar story. With the 194th overall pick, Tennessee selected Coogan—a player whose NFL.com scouting report grades him as an "average backup or special teamer." But numbers don't tell the whole story. The Titans see something special in Coogan's intangibles, particularly his grit, toughness, and relentless finishing mentality.

"With the offensive linemen for us, the grit, the toughness, the nasty, the ability and want-to to finish—those are things we really value," said Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler. "He fits all of those. So we feel like there's a guy there that because of his intangibles, he's going to reach his potential."

Coogan's leadership traits are what truly set him apart. Mike Denbrock, one of Coogan's offensive coordinators at Notre Dame, raves about his All-Pro-level leadership qualities. Coogan gained national attention for his pregame speeches with the Fighting Irish, and that reputation only grew after he transferred to Indiana in 2025. His impact was so profound that he earned Rose Bowl MVP honors after the Hoosiers dominated Alabama 38-3 in January.

Now, Coogan is set to compete for the starting job snapping to rookie quarterback Cam Ward. He'll need to earn his place, but the Titans are giving him every opportunity to become the anchor of their offensive line. And if his career follows even a fraction of Kelce's path, Tennessee might have just found a steal in the sixth round.