The NFL Draft process is a sprawling, nationwide search for talent, and the Tennessee Titans are leaving no stone unturned. While the spotlight often shines brightest on the Combine and major college all-star games, the real work of building a competitive roster often happens in the margins. This week, the Titans' scouting department was hard at work at one of the most important events for uncovering hidden gems: the HBCU Legacy Bowl.
According to a report from TitansWire, part of the USA Today Network, the Titans were among the teams to meet with Alcorn State defensive end Noah Miles during the week of festivities in New Orleans. Miles, coming off an impressive 2025 season that turned scouts' heads, is being viewed as a dynamic edge prospect who could provide valuable depth for a Titans defensive front always looking to add athleticism and pass-rush juice.
The HBCU Legacy Bowl has quickly established itself as a crucial platform for players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to showcase their skills directly in front of NFL decision-makers. For a team like the Titans, consistently active in the later rounds and the undrafted free agent market, these events are scouting goldmines. Finding a contributor on Day 3 or after the draft concludes is a massive win for roster construction and salary cap management.
Who is Noah Miles?
Noah Miles arrives at this pre-draft process as a classic "sleeper" prospect with intriguing physical tools. Playing for the Alcorn State Braves, Miles made his presence felt consistently off the edge. While full-season stats from the 2025 campaign are not detailed in the initial report, the key takeaway from scouts was his dynamic playmaking ability. The term "dynamic" suggests a player with burst, bend, and the kind of athletic traits that can't be taught. At the HBCU level, dominant players often face constant attention from opposing offensive lines, making their production even more impressive.
For the Titans, a player profile like Miles fits a specific need. The team has invested heavily in its defensive front in recent years, but the pass rush, particularly from the edge outside of established stars, can always use more variety and depth. Miles represents the type of developmental athlete that defensive line coaches love to mold--a player with raw physical gifts who can be refined with NFL-level technique and strength training.
The Titans' Draft Philosophy and Fit
General Manager Ran Carthon and Head Coach Brian Callahan have emphasized building a tough, physical, and deep roster at every position. The edge rusher room is no exception. While the team may look to add a high-profile player early in the draft, the work done in the later rounds to find rotational pieces and special teams contributors is equally vital.
A prospect like Miles would likely be targeted as a late-round flier or a priority undrafted free agent. The meeting at the Legacy Bowl is the first critical step in that evaluation. It's a chance for the Titans' scouts and personnel executives to sit down with the young man, understand his football IQ, gauge his work ethic and character, and get a medical update. These formal interviews are as important as the on-field drills when it comes to separating prospects in the final 100 picks.
The Titans' defensive scheme, which blends multiple fronts and asks its edge players to both set a hard edge against the run and get after the quarterback, requires versatile athletes. Miles' reported skill set suggests he could grow into that role. His initial path to making a roster would almost certainly be through relentless effort on special teams and showing flashes in preseason pass-rush situations.
The Importance of the HBCU Legacy Bowl
The Titans' presence and interest in Noah Miles underscore the growing importance of the HBCU Legacy Bowl. For decades, talented players from HBCU programs were overlooked or had fewer opportunities to be seen. Events like this directly bridge that gap. It gives players from schools like Alcorn State, Jackson State, Florida A&M, and North Carolina Central a centralized, nationally televised stage to compete against peer talent.
For NFL teams, it's a highly efficient scouting pool. Every player there has been a standout at their respective school, and the level of competition during the game and practices is intense. Finding a player like Miles here is a testament to the Titans' thorough scouting process. It shows a commitment to evaluating every potential source of talent, which is how championship-caliber depth charts are built.
What's Next for Miles and the Titans?
The meeting in New Orleans is just the beginning of the process for Noah Miles. His performance during Legacy Bowl practices and the game itself will be dissected by all 32 teams. He will hope to earn an invitation to an NFL Pro Day or possibly a private workout with interested teams like the Titans.
For the Tennessee front office, Miles now goes into a bucket of "late-round/priority UDFA edge defenders." His name will be discussed in pre-draft meetings, and his tape from Alcorn State will be reviewed with greater scrutiny. The Titans must decide if his athletic upside and potential are worth a draft pick in the sixth or seventh round, or if they believe they can secure him as a free agent immediately after the draft concludes.
The report of this meeting is a clear signal of the Titans' ongoing draft preparation. It's a reminder that the path to the NFL isn't always through the Power Five conferences and that the search for the next impactful player is constant and wide-ranging. Noah Miles has taken an important step by impressing at the HBCU Legacy Bowl. The Tennessee Titans have taken note, and this pre-draft connection could be the first chapter of an NFL journey for the dynamic edge prospect from Alcorn State.