The focus of the Tennessee Titans' 2025 NFL Draft class was to continue to rebuild the roster via a draft-and-develop strategy.
However, that doesn't mean this rookie class isn't going to push for playing time in 2025. This roster isn't talented enough to keep young players off the field, and the front office and coaching staff have talked about how players get better through repetition.
We're in June, which means the Titans will open training camp next month. From there, it is just a short stretch until the preseason, and then it will be time for the Cam Ward era to begin in Nashville.
As it stands right now, there is a good chance that only one rookie starts Week 1 for the Titans (Ward). The other players will rotate or have sub-package roles, but none of them stand out as immediate starters. That could change by midseason, and these three seem poised to climb the depth chart after they get more experience under their belt.
Kevin Winston Jr., safety
The Tennessee Titans added Xavier Woods in the offseason to fill the need at safety next to Amani Hooker. He is going to get a lot of credit and respect in that locker room because he worked his way up as a sixth-round draft pick in 2017, to a starter in 2018, to a guy who has started 14-plus games over the last seven seasons.
However, he will be 30 this season, and Kevin Winston Jr. was a highly respected safety prospect before his injury in 2024. There is optimism that he will be healthy by training camp. The Titans will ease Winston Jr. into a role on special teams, and he will likely have a role as a third safety. However, if he is as good as they expect, he could easily jump into a starting role with Woods moving into the a rotational position.
Elic Ayomanor, wide receiver
Elic Ayomanor was an outstanding pick for the Titans, and he is going to be a strong candidate for the X-receiver role whenever he is up to speed. However, it seems like the Titans were very intentional about putting veterans around Ward who know their jobs inside and out. Calvin Ridley will be the team's Z, Tyler Lockett will be in the slot, and Van Jefferson is the leader in the clubhouse to be the starting X.
Even with all of that in mind, if Ayomanor does well in the limited role he is given early, he has much more upside than Jefferson. Ayomanor's development into a league-average receiver would be a huge win for the Titans' rebuild.
Femi Oladejo, EDGE
Femi Oladejo has only started a handful of games at EDGE in his college career, and he still has a lot to learn. At UCLA, he could get distracted by the action in the backfield instead of reading his blocks or attacking, and that is the difference between a short gain and an explosive touchdown when you are playing guys against NFL-caliber talents.
Oladejo has the physical tools, and all of the reports on his intensity and work ethic are positive, so that means the only thing keeping him from a starting job is experience. The Titans are thin at the position so it isn't hard to be a starter at EDGE on this defense right now. By midseason, Dennard Wilson could decide that Dre'Mont Jones is better as a rotational pass rusher and a sub-package interior rusher (like Denico Autry) with Oladejo getting the nod as the team's starter at EDGE.