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Let's make this as easy as possible for Tennessee Titans fans.
The 2025 NFL Draft begins in seven days, on April 24. The Titans own eight picks, including the No. 1 pick in the first round. The team needs help just about everywhere, but particularly at quarterback, wide receiver and pass rusher.
There's no way to perfectly forecast what's going to happen across all 257 selections, and there's no way for any one fan to have an informed opinion about every player who's going to be drafted. So, to make things a little simpler, let's give you seven names to learn.
These aren't necessarily going to be players the Titans will pick, though that can't be ruled out, either. Rather, it's a list of seven players who'll signify where the draft is headed and what that will mean for the team as it weaves through the weekend.
DRAFT HISTORY: Want to know why 2025 NFL Draft means so much for Tennessee Titans? Start at the beginning
Fans almost certainly know this name already. He's the player the Titans seem most likely to pick, and whether they take or pass on him will tell us everything we need to know about the plan for the rest of the draft.
DEEP DIVE: How the heck was Cam Ward a zero-star recruit? Inside NFL draft star's frustrating story
The Titans have the third pick in the second round, No. 35 overall. If Dart, the consensus No. 3 QB in the class, is still available, things get spicy. This is right around the range where the Titans traded up to pick Will Levis a couple of years ago, and it's still the range where teams will get itchy to move up for quarterback talent. If Dart's lingering, this is huge for the Titans' ability to prey on opponents' desperation and get a pick trade package in return.
Burden's stock has dropped throughout draft season, meaning he's a first-round talent with the potential to fall into the second round at a major position of need for the Titans. But more than that, Burden is a signifier of the gap between the top tier of receiving talent (Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka) and the next gaggle. If Burden's gone, that probably means there's not a receiver worth drafting at No. 35.
MOCK DRAFT: NFL mock draft 2025: Is Shedeur Sanders falling? How many QBs after Cam Ward in Round 1?
Ezeiruaku is to edge defenders what Burden is to receivers. Guys like Ezeiruaku, James Pearce Jr. and Nic Scourton are the last of the potential No. 1 edge rushers on the board. Next comes a group of players who probably profile more as a No. 2 option: Landon Jackson, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Princely Umanmielen, Bradyn Swinson, etc. If the first group is gone, the Titans have less of a reason to reach for need here when there could be more value in a trade back or picking another position.
Bond's off-field concerns are going to be a major question that could create a strange tangle in the mid-round receiver market. If the Titans are thinking receiver at No. 103 or No. 120, a Bond slip could mean prospects like Kyle Williams, Jalen Royals or Tory Horton going sooner. This could force the Titans to hold off an extra round at pass catcher if they're not comfortable with Bond.
This draft surely isn't lacking in running back depth. But pay attention to how early Skattebo goes. Let's say the expected sixth running back off the board is picked in the top 75. That could force a run on guys like Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Ollie Gordon and Devin Neal. The fate of this tier of running backs should be directly tied to how long the Titans can wait before grabbing a power back of their own somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds.
Grant can and should go somewhere around pick No. 100, the dividing marker between guards and centers who can be expected to develop into starters and interior linemen who need a little more work. If the Titans are planning to pick a developmental lineman to sit behind Kevin Zeitler anyway, that might not be a huge problem. But if the goal is to add pro-ready depth to the interior, seeing where Grant goes serves as a line of demarcation.
WARD TALK: Tennessee Titans target Cam Ward draws comparison to Patrick Mahomes
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 7 NFL draft prospects who could determine Tennessee Titans' future
Continue reading...
The 2025 NFL Draft begins in seven days, on April 24. The Titans own eight picks, including the No. 1 pick in the first round. The team needs help just about everywhere, but particularly at quarterback, wide receiver and pass rusher.
There's no way to perfectly forecast what's going to happen across all 257 selections, and there's no way for any one fan to have an informed opinion about every player who's going to be drafted. So, to make things a little simpler, let's give you seven names to learn.
These aren't necessarily going to be players the Titans will pick, though that can't be ruled out, either. Rather, it's a list of seven players who'll signify where the draft is headed and what that will mean for the team as it weaves through the weekend.
DRAFT HISTORY: Want to know why 2025 NFL Draft means so much for Tennessee Titans? Start at the beginning
1. Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Fans almost certainly know this name already. He's the player the Titans seem most likely to pick, and whether they take or pass on him will tell us everything we need to know about the plan for the rest of the draft.
DEEP DIVE: How the heck was Cam Ward a zero-star recruit? Inside NFL draft star's frustrating story
2. Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
The Titans have the third pick in the second round, No. 35 overall. If Dart, the consensus No. 3 QB in the class, is still available, things get spicy. This is right around the range where the Titans traded up to pick Will Levis a couple of years ago, and it's still the range where teams will get itchy to move up for quarterback talent. If Dart's lingering, this is huge for the Titans' ability to prey on opponents' desperation and get a pick trade package in return.
3. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Burden's stock has dropped throughout draft season, meaning he's a first-round talent with the potential to fall into the second round at a major position of need for the Titans. But more than that, Burden is a signifier of the gap between the top tier of receiving talent (Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka) and the next gaggle. If Burden's gone, that probably means there's not a receiver worth drafting at No. 35.
MOCK DRAFT: NFL mock draft 2025: Is Shedeur Sanders falling? How many QBs after Cam Ward in Round 1?
4. Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE/OLB, Boston College
Ezeiruaku is to edge defenders what Burden is to receivers. Guys like Ezeiruaku, James Pearce Jr. and Nic Scourton are the last of the potential No. 1 edge rushers on the board. Next comes a group of players who probably profile more as a No. 2 option: Landon Jackson, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Princely Umanmielen, Bradyn Swinson, etc. If the first group is gone, the Titans have less of a reason to reach for need here when there could be more value in a trade back or picking another position.
5. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Bond's off-field concerns are going to be a major question that could create a strange tangle in the mid-round receiver market. If the Titans are thinking receiver at No. 103 or No. 120, a Bond slip could mean prospects like Kyle Williams, Jalen Royals or Tory Horton going sooner. This could force the Titans to hold off an extra round at pass catcher if they're not comfortable with Bond.
6. Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
This draft surely isn't lacking in running back depth. But pay attention to how early Skattebo goes. Let's say the expected sixth running back off the board is picked in the top 75. That could force a run on guys like Dylan Sampson, Bhayshul Tuten, Ollie Gordon and Devin Neal. The fate of this tier of running backs should be directly tied to how long the Titans can wait before grabbing a power back of their own somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds.
7. Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary
Grant can and should go somewhere around pick No. 100, the dividing marker between guards and centers who can be expected to develop into starters and interior linemen who need a little more work. If the Titans are planning to pick a developmental lineman to sit behind Kevin Zeitler anyway, that might not be a huge problem. But if the goal is to add pro-ready depth to the interior, seeing where Grant goes serves as a line of demarcation.
WARD TALK: Tennessee Titans target Cam Ward draws comparison to Patrick Mahomes
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 7 NFL draft prospects who could determine Tennessee Titans' future
Continue reading...
