The Tennessee Titans recently had multiple defenders ranked by Bleacher Report ahead of the 2026 season. Among the 99-ranked defenders in the column, the Titans had three representatives to make the list.
No. 73 - Alontae Taylor (No. 7 Nickel)
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Alontae Taylor makes the list for the first time as a Titan. He joined the team after playing as a nickel in New Orleans, but he will play as a boundary outside corner with the Titans in 2026. Taylor received a grade of 79 from Bleacher Report, meaning they view him as a "Critical Roster Piece." He was rated a 16/20 for man coverage, 16/20 for zone coverage, 15/20 for run support, 17/20 for instincts, and 15/20 for ball skills to make the list.
The Bleacher Report scouting department explained the decision.
"An extremely versatile chess piece, Alontae Taylor is a havoc-creating nickel who has excellent football IQ and quick reaction time. He's a physical man-coverage defender who does a great job attacking the catch point and getting his head around. He tends to miss tackles and not always give his all against the run, but he's a high-energy player and gets his defense juiced up. He adds value as a blitzer with seven sacks over the past three seasons and routinely shows off his closing speed to the football. No matter where he's playing, he's a guy to watch out for," Bleacher Report said.
No. 49 - Amani Hooker (No. 13 Safety)
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Amani Hooker makes the list, which is more of a surprise than an expectation after coming off the worst statistical season of his NFL career. He earned an 82 grade by Bleacher Report and is rated higher than Taylor, which is a shock. His 82 rating makes him fall under the "High Quality Starter" section of the rankings, as he finished with 11/15 for man coverage, 16/20 for zone coverage, 16/20 for run support, 22/25 for instincts, and 17/20 for recovery.
Bleacher Report's scouting department would go on to explain the decision.
"It's hard for water to get where it's going with holes everywhere along the pipe, and that's how it felt for Amani Hooker last season. The secondary was riddled with holes, and he was tasked with covering as many as possible. His versatility is outstanding, showcasing the speed and route recognition to come down on short throws and recover over the top. He takes some aggressive angles in run support, but sees the plays unfold and has the effort to track the ball carrier across the field to make a tackle. With a new staff and renewed energy in Tennessee, there's room for Hooker to rebound in a big way," Bleacher Report said.
No. 22 - Jeffery Simmons (No. 3 Defensive Lineman)
The last Titans defender to make the list is the one that was most predictable. That player is defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, who has been the Titans' franchise defensive player for multiple years now, and is someone who continues to get better each season. He comes in ranked as the No. 3 defensive lineman, despite some ranking him as the best defensive lineman in the league. He received a grade of 86, which helps him fall under the "Pro Bowl Caliber" list. He earned his rating thanks to a 26/30 in run defense, 23/25 in pass rush, 17/20 in disruptiveness, 12/15 in tackling, and 8/10 in versatility.
Bleacher Report's scouting department had an explanation for the ranking.
"As a run-defender, Simmons is quick to get his hands up and displays plenty of strength to win at the point of attack. He has also shown flashes of using his athleticism as a change of pace to keep offensive linemen guessing. This combination helps the four-time Pro Bowler be disruptive and make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. The 2025 first-team All-Pro is coming off his best season as a pass-rusher, too, recording a career-high 11 sacks. He wins more with his quickness, hand-usage and a good rip move (or some combination of those three). Also, the 29-year-old veteran has a deep arsenal to push the pocket when using power. Simmons must cut down on the costly penalties, though," Bleacher Report said.
