Titans address premium need in Dane Brugler's first 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The Tennessee Titans are currently scheduled to own the No. 7 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. With starting quarterback Will Levis playing quality football over the past month, the chances of general manager Ran Carthon drafting a replacement quarterback has severely decreased. Levis' improvement could allow the Titans to focus on other positions of need, and there are several of them.

An obvious one is the EDGE position. Dennard Wilson's defense hasn't placed consistent pressure on opposing passers this season. The Titans currently rank 25th in sacks with just 26 quarterback takedowns. Starting EDGEs Harold Landry III and Arden Key have only experienced mild levels of success, and both players (at least one?) are potential cap casualties in the offseason. Heading into Week 14, Tennessee has a 43% pass-win-win-rate (PRWR), per ESPN Stats & Info, and that feels generous.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler is among the most influential NFL draft analysts in the industry. On Wednesday morning, he dropped his first 2025 NFL Mock Draft. Brugler has the Titans selecting Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams with the seventh overall selection.

"After upgrading Tennessee’s offensive line in the first round the last two years, general manager Ran Carthon now can turn to the defensive side of the ball," Brugler wrote. "Although his production has dropped this season as he’s battled through an ankle injury, Williams has a rare blend of power, athleticism and length. His 2024 Texas tape alone might be enough for him to be drafted this high."

Williams entered the 2024 college football season as one of the most fascinating projections. An athletic outlier, he's been tasked with playing more of a traditional EDGE role this year after playing more snaps inside previously. Williams has responded with just three sacks, but a two-sack performance in a notable blowout win over the Texas Longhorns will be referenced as a resume-defining game throughout the pre-draft process.

Williams also battled an early-season injury that impacted his productivity. His pressure-rate and pass-rush-win-rate (PRWR) have been consistently more impressive than the raw sack numbers indicate. He was the No. 8 overall prospect on Brugler's latest big board.

Williams is an alignment-versatile edge defender who possesses all of the physical tools required to develop into a premier defensive playmaker in the NFL. The Georgia standout pairs athleticism with strong hands and functional strength. The Titans desperately need a difference-maker up front. Williams could address a big-time need in Nashville.