Robert Saleh gets new Fred Warner in mock draft pick from ESPN’s Titans insider

The NFL Draft begins on Thursday, and the Tennessee Titans own the No. 4 pick overall. While there have been plenty of rumors connecting the franchise with Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love, ESPN’s Titans insider Turron Davenport has the club going a different direction.

In ESPN’s latest first-round mock draft with all 32 team-specific insiders, Davenport has the Titans selecting former Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles. Davenport argues that because head coach Robert Saleh utilizes a defense that prioritizes linebackers, Styles’ elite athleticism would give the Titans’ defense its own version of Fred Warner.

“Middle linebacker is a premium position for Robert Saleh’s defense,” explained Davenport. “Now Saleh gets a player often compared to 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who ascended under Saleh to become one of the league’s top defensive players.

“Styles, a converted safety, has the traits to man the middle of the field and clog passing lanes. Adding a defender might not seem as if it helps Cam Ward, but improving a defense that gave up 28 points [per game] last season will take some pressure off of the young quarterback.”

The 21-year-old linebacker turned heads at the NFL Combine after posting an impressive 4.46 40 time, a 43.5-inch vertical jump, and an 11’2″ broad jump at 6-foot-5 and 244 lbs. He is arguably the most athletically gifted inside linebacker prospect entering a draft, and could be a huge acquisition for Sale and the Titans’ defense.

Styles played all four years at Ohio State. He converted from safety to linebacker ahead of the 2023-24 season, and immediately became an impact player in the Buckeyes’ defense. In his two seasons as a linebacker, Sonny Styles recorded 182 combined tackles (94 solo), 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception.

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