As the 2026 offseason calendar turns, the conversation in Nashville is shifting from the explosive potential of Cam Ward to the literal “meat and potatoes” of this roster, the offensive line. While we’ve made strides in retooling the trenches, the Right Guard and Center positions remain a glaring vacancy on the depth chart.
Currently, the most logical path is a reunion with veteran Kevin Zeitler. He provides the kind of veteran stability and continuity a young quarterback needs, but if a deal doesn’t
materialize, the front office has a puzzle to solve. We’ve seen the “Skoronski Shuffle” discussed as a potential contingency, if needed. Peter Skoronski has the elite toolkit to slide over to the right, depending on who Borgonzi and the coaching staff fall in love with.
We also have Jackson Slater in the mix, who showed flashes late in the season of being a versatile interior piece. Whether he stays at guard or makes a permanent transition to Center remains to be seen, but his flexibility is a beneficial asset. What we cannot do is rely on recent depth signings like Cordell Volson or Garrett Dellinger to be the primary solution. They were brought in to shore up the bench, not to handle 17 games of starting reps.
The longer we wait to address the interior in April, the higher the pressure becomes to burn a premium pick in the first two rounds. To avoid that ‘desperation reach,’ I’ve circled five mid-to-late round targets who can compete for snaps immediately. You’ll recognize a few names from the mainstream draft cycle, but I’ve also dug up some under-the-radar gems that the national media is overlooking. My goal with these deep dives is to shine a light on the prospects who actually fit the identity we are trying to build, regardless of their current hype.
The search for the right piece to complete this offensive line has officially moved into the “fine-tuning” phase. While we’ve secured depth with names like Cordell Volson and Garrett Dellinger, let’s be honest: those are “insurance policy” signings. They provide a safety net, but they aren’t the high-ceiling starters this new-look offense needs to protect Cam Ward.
The Right Guard spot is the final riddle. Whether we bring back Kevin Zeitler for one last ride or decide to execute the “Skoronski Shuffle”—sliding Peter to the right to accommodate a new face on the left—the draft is where the long-term solution lies. If we don’t identify our guy in the middle rounds, the pressure to reach for an interior lineman in the first two rounds becomes almost unbearable.
Here is a deep dive into the five prospects who could solidify the interior of the “Titans’ Wall.”
1. Keylan Rutledge | Georgia Tech
- Draft Range: Late 2nd / Early 3rd
- What He Excels At: Rutledge is a high octane athlete who plays with a blue collar mentality. His ability to pull and lead-block in space is elite. He has the foot speed to reach the perimeter and the mean streak to bury linebackers once he gets there.
- What He Needs to Work On: From the tape I have seen, his aggression is a double edged sword. He can occasionally get overextended, leading to balance issues or holding penalties when he tries to overpower defenders. He needs to refine his hand placement to ensure his violence stays within the frame.
- The Daboll Fit: That being said, I think he can be the ultimate weapon for a creative play caller. Daboll loves using guards in the screen game and on designed rollouts. Rutledge’s mobility makes him a perfect match for a scheme that wants to keep the defense moving horizontally.
2. Billy Schrauth | Notre Dame
- Draft Range: 3rd – 4th Round
- What He Excels At: Coming from the Notre Dame “Lineman Lab,” Schrauth is a technical savant. His hand fighting and ability to reset his anchor mid-rep are top of the class. He is incredibly intelligent, rarely missing a blitz pickup or a late stunt transition.
- What He Needs to Work On: The medicals are the only question. Coming off a late season MCL sprain, he needs to prove that his lower body explosion is fully restored before labeling him as a Day 1 starter. He isn’t quite the “freak” athlete that Rutledge is, so he relies heavily on that pristine technique.
- The Daboll Fit: Versatility is his calling card. Because of his high football IQ, he can play either guard spot. If the Titans want to move Skoronski around or need a high IQ stabilizer next to a young Center like Jackson Slater, Schrauth is a plug and play solution.
3. Jalen Farmer | Kentucky
- Draft Range: 3rd – 5th Round
- What He Excels At: Pure, unadulterated power. Farmer is the definition of a mauler who uses sledgehammer hands to stun defensive tackles. He was arguably the most dominant interior presence at the Senior Bowl, proving he could anchor against the biggest nose tackles in the country.
- What He Needs to Work On: Lateral agility. While he is a wall in pass protection, he can occasionally struggle against “twitched up” interior rushers who use pure speed to cross his face. He needs to continue working on his footwork to mirror those smaller, faster 3 techs.
- The Daboll Fit: He is the “Bodyguard.” If the goal is to create a clean, firm pocket for Cam Ward to step into, Farmer is the man for the job. He brings an SEC tested “bully” mentality that changes the identity of the entire room.
4. Beau Stephens | Iowa
- Draft Range: 4th – 5th Round
- What He Excels At: Consistency and leverage. Like most Iowa products, Stephens is a fundamental master. He finished 2025 with an elite 91.6 pass blocking grade because he simply does not get moved off his spot. He plays with a low center of gravity that makes him a nightmare to bull rush.
- What He Needs to Work On: His “ceiling.” Scouts wonder if he has the elite athleticism to be a dominant force in a wide zone scheme. He is more of a “high-floor” prospect who does everything well but nothing that looks “flashy” on a Combine spreadsheet.
- The Daboll Fit: He is the “No-Mistakes” player. In a pass heavy offense, you need a guard you don’t have to worry about. Stephens provides that high level reliability, allowing the coaching staff to focus on the skill players while the “Iowa kid” just does his job.
5. Febechi Nwaiwu | Oklahoma
- Draft Range: 4th – 7th Round
- What He Excels At: Pass protection efficiency and mental processing. Nwaiwu is an analytical dream, matching Stephens with a 91.6 PFF pass blocking grade. He handles complex stunts and twists with a veteran’s poise, always keeping his head on a swivel to help his tackle or center. Something else to note, he played 144 snaps at Center as well.
- What He Needs to Work On: Core strength in the run game. While he is elite at mirroring rushers, he doesn’t always generate the same “drive block” push that a guy like Farmer does. He’ll need an NFL strength program to help him move elite interior defenders in short yardage situations.
- The Daboll Fit: He is the “Late-Round Treasure.” For a team looking to throw 40 times a game, Nwaiwu’s ability to stay technically sound over high volume is a perfect match. He provides the “smart, tough, dependable” traits that this staff covets.
Identity Meets the Trenches
Which of these five targets eventually hears their name called in April depends entirely on how Brian Daboll intends to shape this offense around Cam Ward. In Buffalo, Daboll was known for a “pass to set up the run” philosophy, often leaning into 11-personnel and a spread out vertical attack that prioritized protection over all else. However, his time in New York showed he is a chameleon. When the roster dictated it, he pivoted to a heavy ground and pound game anchored by multiple tight end sets. If the Titans want to let Ward air it out and utilize his processing speed, a technician like Beau Stephens or Febechi Nwaiwu is the ideal “security blanket.” If the goal is to establish a physical, smash mouth identity that supports a dominant defense, then the “mean streak” of Keylan Rutledge or Jalen Farmer becomes the priority.
Regardless of which developmental path the team takes, bringing Kevin Zeitler back into the fold remains the most crucial move going forward. His consistency and veteran leadership provide a coach on the field for a young nucleus that is still learning the nuances of the NFL game. Having a pro’s pro like Zeitler at Right Guard ensures that whether we draft a Day 1 starter or a high-upside project, the floor of this offensive line remains high enough to keep our franchise quarterback upright.
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