The headlines in Nashville are currently dominated by nine-figure contracts and superstar reunions. But as Mike Borgonzi and Robert Saleh know, you can’t build a penthouse without a foundation. While the world waits to see what happens at No. 4, the real “Borgonzi Revolution” will be won in the third round and beyond. It’s about finding the “glue guys”— the players with the right PFF profiles and athletic thresholds to thrive in this new scheme.
From a ‘Mountain’ at tackle to a linebacker who plays
like an NBA small forward, these five names represent the strategic depth needed to turn a spending spree into a playoff run. Stick around until the end, because I’ve got a surprise solution for a position of need that might just be the most important ‘4D Chess’ move of the offseason.
1. LT: Markel Bell (Miami)
The Story: I’ll be honest, I think playing next to a superstar like Francis Mauigoa has actually hurt Bell’s stock. When you have a potential Top-5 pick on the other side of the line, it’s easy to get lost in the shadows. But that shadow is exactly where the Titans can find their steal.
- The PFF/Combine Metric: Bell was a pass-blocking specialist in 2025, posting an elite 83.8 PFF Pass Block grade and allowing zero sacks in over 800 snaps. At the Combine, he measured in at a staggering 6’9”, 346 lbs with 36-inch arms.
- The Fit: Dan Moore Jr. has the job for now, but the Titans need legitimate competition. Bell is a massive project with a franchise tackle ceiling. If he can refine his footwork, he has the natural length you simply cannot coach.
2. RG: Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech)
The Story: Assuming we re-sign Kevin Zeitler for the short term, Rutledge is the definitive long-term answer. He is an old-school “glass eater” who was actually told by coaches at the Senior Bowl to “dial it back” because he was playing too violently in drills. But don’t let the “bully” label fool you—he’s just as sophisticated in pass protection as he is destructive in the run game.
- The PFF/Combine Metric: Rutledge was a monster in the run game, earning a 77.1 PFF Run Block grade, but his pass-pro numbers are what define his high floor. He was ranked as a Top 10 pass-blocking guard nationally by PFF, allowing zero sacks and only six quarterback hurries in over 870 snaps in 2025. At the Combine, he showed off his “basketball feet” (he was a 1,000-point scorer in HS) with a 1.85s 10-yard split, proving he has the explosive short-area twitch to mirror NFL-level interior rushers.
- The Fit: He’s the perfect “Borgonzi Blueprint” player: durable, versatile, and technically sound. While he’s a brawler, his ability to drop a heavy anchor against bull rushes and reset his hands mid-rep makes him a Day 1 starter. He’d be the perfect “apprentice” to sit behind Zeitler for a year before becoming the cornerstone of the right side alongside Peter Skoronski.
3. EDGE/OLB: Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU)
The Story: Think of Perkins as the “diet” version of Arvell Reese, but with a more specialized tool kit. While Reese is the foundational “every-down” wall, Perkins is a pure tactical weapon. His value comes from his “off the charts” closing speed and his history as a New Orleans local who was one of the highest rated recruits in the country before a 2024 ACL tear slightly cooled his draft stock.
- The PFF/Combine Metric: Perkins bounced back in 2025 with an 82.0 PFF grade in his best outing against Alabama. He recorded a blistering 4.45s 40-yard dash at the Combine, confirming he’s still the “heat-seeking missile” we saw as a freshman.
- The Fit: Saleh loves defensive “chess pieces.” Perkins isn’t built to take on 330-pound tackles every snap, but as a situational rusher or a QB spy, he is elite. His bend and dip allow him to turn the corner at angles that look physically impossible. He is the ultimate “Joker” who can simulate a blitz and then drop into a flat in a heartbeat.
4. HB: Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas)
The Story: If we don’t go with Jeremiyah Love at No. 4, Washington Jr. is the “Plan B” you sprint to the podium for. While Love is the “heir apparent,” Washington is the athletic anomaly. He didn’t just have a breakout year at Arkansas; he literally made history in Indianapolis.
- The PFF/Combine Metric: Washington recorded a perfect 10.0 RAS, ranking No. 1 out of over 2,100 RBs tested since 1987. At the combine, he ran a 4.33s 40-yard dash to led all backs, and he pairs that speed with a sturdy 6’1 223-pound frame. In 2025, he posted a 6.4 YPC in the SEC and an elite 3.86 yards after contact per attempt.
- The Fit: Unlike smaller speedsters, Washington has the size to handle a full workload. He is a one-cut-and-go runner who thrives in zone schemes. He offers that “home-run hitting” ability on Day 2, allowing the Titans to spend their early capital on the defense.
5. LB: Eric Gentry (USC)
The Story: Gentry is the most unique athlete in this class. At 6’6” and 225 lbs, he’s built like a basketball player but plays with a linebacker’s soul. He is the definition of a “Unicorn” defender.
- The PFF/Combine Metric: Gentry’s calling card is his 86-inch wingspan—the highest for a linebacker since 2003. He confirmed this “freak” status at the Combine, measuring in the 99th percentile for height and arm length. In 2025, he backed up the measurements with production, posting a 72.1 PFF Coverage grade and a staggering 5 forced fumbles.
- The Fit: Gentry is the ultimate “Eraser.” His massive wingspan allows him to tip passes and clog throwing lanes in the middle of the field that other linebackers simply can’t reach. Saleh would use Gentry’s length to neutralize the “Big” Tight Ends of the AFC South, forcing quarterbacks to look elsewhere or risk a deflection every time they target the seam.
The Interior Chess Move: Jackson Slater at Center?
Beyond these five, the real “4D Chess” move might come from within. While Jackson Slater (our 2025 5th-round pick) spent his college career at guard, he actually trained as a backup at Center and looked incredibly comfortable taking snaps there during the Combine. I could easily see the Titans sliding Slater over to the pivot to compete for the starting job.
To provide insurance, Borgonzi has already built a “Daboll Instruction Manual.” The signing of Austin Schlottmann (2 years, $9M) has some behind the scenes flare. He knows the Daboll terminology and terminology by heart. Add in Cordell Volson (1 year, $2.5M guaranteed) for veteran guard depth, and the Titans could have the interior numbers to let a player like Slater continue his development at Center.
But I want to hear from you! Do you like the idea of Jackson Slater moving to Center to unlock his versatility? And between Perkins and Gentry, which hybrid defender do you think Robert Saleh would have more fun with in his Wide-9 defensive scheme?
Drop a comment below!
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