The Tennessee Titans are entering the 2025 NFL Draft with a massive hole at EDGE. Dennard Wilson's unit recorded just 32.0 sacks last season, third-fewest in the NFL. The premier pass-rushing position was a need even before the Titans made 2024 sack leader Harold Landry III a salary cap casualty. His departure furthered the need for starting-caliber players at the position.
Nor did general manager Mike Borgonzi adequately address EDGE in free agency. The team signed Dre'Mont Jones to a one-year contract, but Jones is more of a versatile inside-outside player than full-time defensive end. The only other move was to add back-end depth via Lorenzo Carter.
With the Titans expected to draft Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 overall, the 35th selection represents Borgonzi's next opportunity to draft a difference-making EDGE. We've identified some potential targets in the second round.
Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Landon Jackson was a modest producer at Arkansas, recording 6.5 sacks apiece in 2023 and 2024. The Razorbacks' defensive staff asked him to play a ton of 4i, which limited his pass-rushing production. Jackson was a standout at the NFL Combine in some drills, leaping a position-best 40.5 inch vertical, and second-best broad jump at 10-foot-9. His 10-yard split was a disappointing 1.65 and may highlight a concerning lack of initial burst. The Titans must decide which version of athlete he is.
Mike Green, Marshall
Mike Green is a consensus first-round pick on talent alone, but alleged off-field issues, mentioned by various NFL scouts, muddy his actual evaluation. We're unclear how Borgonzi feels about character concerns, but his former employee Kansas City Chiefs never shied away from drafting talents with red flags. If Green remains available at No. 35, his diverse pass-rushing repertoire and first-step explosiveness would fill exactly what the Titans are looking for.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Donovan Ezeiruaku recorded a haunting 16.5 sacks this past season as one of the most productive D-I defenders in the nation. Ezeiruaku also dominated the NFL Combine by posting position-bests in the three-cone (6.94) and short shuttle (4.19), two drills that appropriately measure short-area agility for pass rushers. Is he a three-down defender who can stop the run? That's the main question surrounding his evaluation.
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton bulked up to approximately 280 pounds at Texas A&M this past season and recorded five sacks, half (10.0) of what he produced at Purdue in 2023. Scourton has a frame that screams early-down run defender, but the pass-rushing upside is a question. He declined opportunities to participate in testing at the NFL Combine and Pro Day, leading to questions about his athletic profile.