2026 NFL draft: Prospects Tennessee Titans should watch during Wednesday's bowl games

1 week ago 2

It’s New Year's Eve in Nashville, and the Tennessee Titans will be back on the practice field preparing for their season finale. While the players are there, the scouting staff and front office will be monitoring prospects as bowl season kicks into high gear.

There are five games on Wednesday, with some recognizable teams and prospects taking the field. Unfortunately, some of the games have lost their luster with opt-outs, but it is still a day that all teams will monitor, including the Titans, who will likely have a top-5 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Titans currently hold the fourth-overall pick, but could see some minor movement depending on how Week 17 plays out. Tennessee has multiple needs and needs an infusion of talent, so maximizing draft capital is a must during this rebuild. With limited games remaining, Titans scouts have one final significant opportunity to evaluate top prospects in a live game setting.

Here is a quick breakdown of the players the Titans should key in on today.

ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt

Player spotlight: Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker

After a shaky start to the season, the Titans’ offensive line has shown significant improvement in recent weeks and is currently scheduled to return almost entirely intact. That shouldn’t stop them from evaluating some of the top prospects. Veteran Kevin Zeitler is an impending free agent, and there is a lack of established depth behind the five starters.

That’s why Dunker could make sense for the Titans on Day 2 of the draft. A mauling college tackle, he has the skill set to kick inside and adds a powerful blocker who plays with an edge. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, he lacks the athleticism and movement skills to stay at tackle, but the traits are there to develop into an asset on the interior in the right offensive system.

Other players of note:

Iowa OL Logan Jones
Iowa OL Kade Pieper
Iowa OL Trevor Lauck
Iowa DL Aaron Graves
Iowa EDGE Max Llewellyn
Iowa S Xavier Nwankpa
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt CB Martel Height
Vanderbilt OL Cade McConnell
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas

Player spotlight: Michigan CB Jyaire Hill

This matchup between historic programs has been affected by players opting out or entering the transfer portal. At last count, over 20 players on both sides will not take part in this one. Still, there are plenty of NFL-caliber prospects to keep an eye on, and some are at positions of need for the Titans. One of those is Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill.

The Titans will enter the offseason with some significant questions at the cornerback position, and it will undoubtedly sit at the top of the need list in both free agency and the draft, and Hill is a player who could grab their attention.

While some maturity issues must be evaluated, his athleticism and ability in a press-man system are undeniable. At 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, he brings an elite combination of size and speed to the table and has the tools to develop both inside and outside in the secondary. He is raw and must be developed, but does have the potential to outplay his mid-round draft projection.

Other players of note:

Michigan DL Rayshaun Benny
Michigan RB Max Bredeson
Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
Michigan TE Marlin Klein
Texas DT Hero Kanu
Texas TE Jack Endries

Cotton Bowl Classic: Miami vs. Ohio State

Player spotlight: Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese

This legendary bowl game will be the game to watch on Wednesday, and will be heavily attended by NFL scouts, and should be one the Titans have circled. This one boasts some prospects that fall right in the crosshairs of Tennessee’s needs, and their eventual first-round pick may take the field in this game.

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate and Miami edge Reuben Bain have both been mocked to the Titans in recent weeks and covered by Titans Wire, so we are taking a deep dive on another prospect who should be high on their draft board, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.

Here's what Mel Kiper Jr. had to say about Reese:

This is a complete football player. Reese jumps off the Ohio State tape, playing the game like a veteran. I see natural instincts at the linebacker position that allow him to make plays most guys just can't make, and he has the burst to get home when turned loose as a pass rusher. Reese has been a big riser in this class.

Other players of note:

Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald
Miami EDGE Ruben Bain
Miami DT Francis Mauigoa
Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Miami QB Carson Beck

Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke

Player spotlight: Arizona State Edge Clayton Smith

This would have risen to the top of the Titans’ watch list if Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson had decided to play. Instead, the star wideout decided to opt out and join other prospects such as cornerback Keith Abne, offensive lineman Max Iheanachor, offensive lineman Brian Parker, and edge rusher Vincent Anthony, who will not suit up for their teams.

Smith is a developmental edge prospect who has the skill set that could develop into a consistent rotational player on the edge. While he lacks elite measurables, his tape shows versatility as a pass rusher and in coverage, and some more solid take could solidify his status as a Day 3 prospect.

Other players of note:

Arizona State DL CJ Fite
Arizona State RB Kanye Udoh
Arizona State WR Malik McClain
Arizona State TE Chamon Metayer
Duke WR Cooper Barkate
Duke EDGE Wesley Williams
Duke S Terry Moore
Duke WR Andrel Anthony

Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah

Player spotlight: Nebraska WR Dane Key

The Las Vegas Bowl also took a hit when some of the top prospects opted out of action. Utah offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, and edge rushers John Henry Daley and Logan Fano will not play in the game. Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson Jr. will also sit this one out.

Key may not be a top-tier wideout in this class, but he has the skill set and ability to carve out a specialized role in an NFL system. A technician as a route runner with outstanding hands, he could be a target in the later rounds, who could develop into a solid possession receiver.

Other players of note: