The Tennessee Titans are sitting in a spot they never wanted to be in again. Picking first. It’s a gut punch for a fan base that thought the Will Levis era might at least offer a steady climb. Instead, the 2024 season was a mess of turnovers and "what-if" moments that landed them the No. 1 overall pick. Now, every 2025 nfl mock draft titans fans scroll through seems to point to one name: Cam Ward.
Is it a lock? Pretty much.
General Manager Mike Borgonzi, coming over from the Chiefs' winning culture, isn't here to play it safe with a "bridge" veteran. He saw how a transformative playmaker under center changes a franchise's entire gravity. Honestly, looking at the roster, there isn't a single position that couldn't use a talent injection, but you don't pass on a franchise arm when you're picking at the top of the board.
The Cam Ward Obsession and Why Levis is the Odd Man Out
The conversation starts and ends with the quarterback.
Will Levis has the "cannon" and the grit, sure. But the numbers from 2024 were ugly. Tennessee’s passers ranked 30th in EPA per dropback. That’s a fancy way of saying they weren't just bad; they were actively losing games. Levis threw 12 interceptions in just 12 starts. You can't survive that in the modern NFL.
Cam Ward is different. He’s got that "off-script" magic that Borgonzi saw every day in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes. Nobody is saying Ward is Mahomes—let’s not get crazy—but his ability to throw from weird arm angles and create when the pocket collapses is exactly what Brian Callahan’s offense needs.
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Why not Travis Hunter?
A lot of people are screaming for the Titans to take the Colorado superstar. Hunter is a freak of nature. He plays corner; he plays receiver; he probably drives the team bus. But the Titans aren't a "one player away" team on the perimeter. If you don't have the guy taking the snaps, it doesn't matter if you have prime Jerry Rice out wide.
The consensus among draft experts like Mel Kiper and the folks over at FantasyPros is hovering around 60% for Ward. The other 40% usually goes to Abdul Carter, the Penn State edge rusher. But honestly, if you're the Titans, you take the QB. You just do.
Fixing a Broken Defense: Rounds 2 and 3
The Titans' defense was basically a sieve last year when it came to rushing the passer. They had 32 sacks. Only two teams were worse. Then they let Harold Landry III go in a cap-cutting move.
Oluwafemi Oladejo out of UCLA is a name to watch in the second round. He's a bit of a project because he moved from off-ball linebacker to edge halfway through his senior year, but the "juice" is real. He’s explosive.
The Secondary Problem
Then there's the safety spot. Amani Hooker is solid, but the depth is terrifyingly thin. In many mocks, the Titans use their third-round pick (often acquired by trading back from the top of the second) on Kevin Winston Jr. from Penn State.
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- The Risk: Winston had a torn ACL.
- The Reward: He was a top-50 talent before the injury.
- The Fit: He projects as a sub-package monster who can cover tight ends.
The Pass Catcher Crisis
Calvin Ridley is great, but he’s getting older and he’s lonely out there. Treylon Burks is, unfortunately, looking like a total bust at this point. The Titans need speed. They need guys who can actually catch a football in traffic.
Enter Elic Ayomanor from Stanford.
He’s a big-bodied "X" receiver who specializes in contested catches. He had 34 of them over the last two seasons. If the Titans can snag him in the fourth round, it’s a massive win. Pair him with Chimere Dike, a speedster from Florida, and suddenly Cam Ward actually has people to throw to.
A Look at the Projected 2025 Class
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Cam Ward | QB | Miami |
| 2 | 52 | Oluwafemi Oladejo | EDGE | UCLA |
| 3 | 82 | Kevin Winston Jr. | S | Penn State |
| 4 | 103 | Chimere Dike | WR | Florida |
| 4 | 120 | Gunnar Helm | TE | Texas |
| 4 | 136 | Elic Ayomanor | WR | Stanford |
This isn't just about filling holes. It's about a complete identity shift. The Titans have been a "run-first, play-tough" team for decades. But the league has moved on. Drafting a guy like Ward and surrounding him with three new pass catchers in the first four rounds tells you everything you need to know about the new regime's plan.
The "Sneaky" Needs Nobody Talks About
While everyone is obsessed with the flashy positions, the offensive line is still "kinda" a mess.
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JC Latham and Peter Skoronski are the foundation, but the right tackle spot was a revolving door of sadness in 2024. Dan Moore is a "serviceable" vet, but he’s not the future. Watch for the Titans to use a fifth-round pick on someone like Jackson Slater from Sacramento State. He’s a small-school guy with a mean streak who could eventually take over at guard or even center.
Also, don't sleep on the interior defensive line. T’Vondre Sweat is a house, and Jeffery Simmons is a god, but they have zero depth behind them. If a guy like Sebastian Joseph-Day walks in 2026, they’re in trouble. Using a late-round flyer on a space-eater is almost a certainty.
Practical Steps for Titans Fans This Draft Season
If you're trying to keep up with the 2025 nfl mock draft titans cycle, don't just look at the names. Look at the trades. Borgonzi is likely to be aggressive.
- Watch the Ward Tape: Focus on his 2024 Miami highlights, specifically how he handles pressure. The Titans' line won't be perfect, so he needs to be able to bail them out.
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Guys like Kevin Winston Jr. are the key to the middle rounds. If his medicals clear at the Combine, he won't last until the third round.
- Ignore the "Hunter to Nashville" Hype: It’s fun to think about, but the math doesn't work for a team that doesn't have a quarterback.
The 2025 draft is the most important weekend for this franchise since they moved to Nashville. Getting it wrong isn't an option. With a new GM, a new head coach, and the first overall pick, the "Two-Tone Blue" are finally ready to enter the modern age of football.