The Tennessee Titans clinched the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft following their Week 18 defeat to the Houston Texans. A lot has happened since then. The Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon and positioned president of football operations Chad Brinker as the de-facto decision maker.
The Titans will appoint a new general manager. Several candidates have already been revealed, including Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi. Even though Brinker is calling the shots, whoever the Titans replace Carthon with will assist Brinker in the decision-making process with the No. 1 overall selection.
One of the biggest decisions Tennessee's new power structure has to make is regarding the quarterback position. Owning the top overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft gives the Titans an opportunity to provide head coach Brian Callahan with a new QB. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are considered the top-ranking prospects, though opinions are split on their projections.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid recently released his latest first-round projection. Knowing that the team will be moving on from Will Levis this offseason, Reid has the Titans drafting Ward with the top overall pick.
My new 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 7, 2025
• 2 QBs in Round 1
• Deeeep D-Line class
• Some new names📈https://t.co/Xog5zDYyNG
"When asked what the Titans should do with their first No. 1 pick since 1978, sources around the league told me they must take a quarterback -- but were split between Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders" Reid wrote. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Ward is currently my top QB prospect, and I think the Titans would select him here."
"Ward's combination of arm power, creativity and a shortstop-like throwing motion make him an electric playmaker," Reid continued. "He can also beat you deep, as his 29 completions on passes of 20-plus air yards were the seventh most nationally. Ward threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Hurricanes this season while also rushing for four touchdowns."
Ward was a dynamic quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes throughout the 2024 campaign. The off-script magician threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Ward led the Hurricanes to their first 10-win campaign since 2017.
Ward is a supremely talented signal caller with the fundamental arm talent required to test tight throwing windows. Ward routinely extends the pocket and manufactures explosive plays through creativity, displaying a skill-set that's constantly in demand in today's NFL. If the Titans are looking for a quarterback with terrific upside, they could identify him as their next franchise quarterback.