After their latest season adrift from competitiveness, the 3-14 Tennessee Titans saw results around the league in Week 18 land them the first overall selection in April’s draft.

While the Titans may feel a bit aggrieved, landing the top pick in a year without a no-brainer, unanimous franchise quarterback to take, it is still an incredible opportunity to find a franchise-altering talent. Boosting Tennessee’s war chest come draft time is the 33rd overall pick, and five more selections to use on day three.

Before they lead off proceedings in April, read on for the Tennessee Titans’ 2025 NFL Draft outlook.

Tennessee Titans Needs & Draft Strategy

For most teams as talent poor as the Tennessee Titans, the draft would be approached with a best player available strategy. With the first pick, however, no such luxury exists. If the Titans are even slightly convinced by either of the draft’s two top passers, one has to be the choice, such is the importance of a franchise quarterback.

They do, however, have several other positions with glaring holes. The following is what is most pressing in Tennessee.

If there was any chance of Will Levis developing into a starting caliber quarterback, it would have been seen in 2024. The Titans have a good quarterback coach in head coach Brian Callahan, and boasted skill at running back, wide receiver, and tight end.

Instead, Levis spent the season finding new ways to be hilariously bad and, ultimately, was benched for veteran backup Mason Rudolph. After the two quarterbacks combined for 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, the Titans will quite happily start anew in 2025 with a new hope under center.

Tennessee will be eager to follow a strategy teams like the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts have attempted previously, and follow up a quarterback at first overall with a pass catcher. With Chigoziem Okonkwo and Josh Whyle competent tight ends, that sets the Titans’ sights on wide receiver.

Calvin Ridley, who led the Titans in receptions and receiving yards in 2024, is likely to be dealt amid swirling trade rumors. That leaves Tyler Boyd and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who combined for 71 catches and 887 yards last year, as a rookie’s targets. Boyd is a veteran who has spent the last two years being a net negative, and Westbrook-Ikhine is a deep threat who should never rise above fourth on the depth chart.

To give its next quarterback a chance at success, Tennessee simply must improve upon that position.

A passing theme remains when looking at Tennessee’s third most pressing need, albeit on the other side of the ball. As the team transitions into a rebuild, a young pass rusher to build with is needed. Last year, the Titans’ edge duo of Harold Landry (nine) and Arden Key (6.5) led the team in sacks, but both come with long-term question marks. Landry is nearing 30, has had injury concerns, and would be a sensible trade target for contenders. Key has struggled to develop because of issues keeping him off the field repeatedly.

With Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat along the defensive line, Tennessee has the foundation of a strong front seven. An exciting young prospect on the edge is the natural next step.

Potential Tennessee Titans Draft Picks 2025

At the top of the draft, at quarterback, the Tennessee Titans’ options come down to two players. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders failed to separate themselves from one another throughout the 2024 season, and teams are seemingly split on which is the better prospect.

Sanders would bring star power to a franchise often forgotten in the broader NFL landscape. He would, however, also bring potential dramatics and off-field distractions courtesy of his father and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. To Shedeur’s credit, he has the type of processing and accuracy that would lend itself to success in Brian Callahan’s offense.

Ward continuously improved throughout his college career and, much like last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, used his experience to his benefit ahead of the draft. Though Ward lacks the technical efficiency of Sanders, he has the type of playmaking most modern passers need.

At the top of round two, the Titans could have a host of receivers to choose from. Tre Harris of Mississippi, Savion Williams of TCU, Illinois’ Pat Bryant, or Elic Ayomanor of Stanford all possess the kind of size that would enable them to step right into the starting lineup.

Of course, for all the quarterback talk, there’s a chance the Titans surprise and take the true best player in the draft at first overall — Penn State’s Abdul Carter. In the more likely scenario that the Titans go QB at the top, however, they would turn their attention to a batch of second tier pass rushers. Jared Ivey from Mississippi, Shemar Turner from Texas A&M, or Landon Jackson from Arkansas stand out from that group.