The 2025 NFL Draft is a month away, and the Tennessee Titans have every ability to come away with a haul that changes the franchise forever.
But… what if that’s not how it goes.
In this week’s Titans seven-round mock draft, we’re talking our way through the worst-case scenarios. We’re talking mistakes, bad strategies, players to avoid and more. So don’t expect discussions of Cam Ward at No. 1, trades back that set up the future or mid-round steals who project as valuable pieces.
Here’s the path the Titans absolutely need to avoid taking in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Tennessee Titans NFL mock draft 2025: Nightmare edition
Round 1, pick 1: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Why it’s a nightmare: Hunter is the best football player in this draft. There isn’t a team in the NFL that doesn’t get a little better with Hunter on roster. In an ideal future, Hunter is a transformative presence capable of affecting football the way Shohei Ohtani has changed baseball. But if the Titans aren’t picking a quarterback at No. 1, and they aren’t trading back from No. 1, this is just bad value.
If you want Hunter, trade back and get more assets first. Otherwise you’re mismanaging the value of being at the top of the draft.
Round 2, pick 35: Landon Jackson, DE/OLB, Arkansas
Why it’s a nightmare: In this worst-case scenario draft, pass rushers like Nic Scourton, Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Pearce Jr. are off the board before the Titans come up again. So they reach for Jackson, the hyper-athletic but not-super-productive edge from Arkansas. Jackson is a project player who’s more traits than tape, and that’s the sort of boom-or-bust prospect the Titans need to avoid at this stage of the rebuild.
Round 3, pick 67: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Why it’s a nightmare: The Titans don’t learn their lesson. Milroe falls into the third round, so the Titans trade pick No. 120 and a future third-round pick to move up and take another gamble on a quarterback. Milroe comes into the league with similar concerns as the ones that followed Will Levis and Malik Willis into the NFL. Now the Titans have another project on their hands, and they’re giving up a future draft pick on the gamble yet again.
Round 4, pick 103: Barrett Carter, ILB, Clemson
Why it’s a nightmare: This pick means punting on 2024 draft picks Cedric Gray and James Williams. Maybe that’s necessary. But it’s a signal that the Titans are putting a high premium on one of the less valuable positions on the field, prioritizing short-term need over long-term growth. Even if Carter ends up being a good player, he doesn’t go a long way toward making the Titans better.
Round 5, pick 141: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Why it’s a nightmare: Cornelius represents the kind of player the Titans have valued in recent years that maybe the new regime should stay away from: a solid college lineman who didn’t get all that much better with more experience. Building offensive line depth is a must. Doing so by drafting an updated version of what players like Nicholas Petit-Frere have been when they arrived in the building isn’t the move.
Round 5, pick 167: Quandarrius Robinson, DE/OLB, Alabama
Why it’s a nightmare: Doubling up on the edge rusher need? Good. Doing so by drafting a guy who was never more than a rotational option in college and doesn’t have much of a track record of proving he can get to the quarterback? Not the way to do it.
Round 6, pick 178: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
Why it’s a nightmare: It’s a little redundant. Blue’s speed could give the Titans’ offense a dynamic element it’s missing. But he’s a little too similar to Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears at the end of the day. If the Titans want to fill a need at running back, they need to find a bigger, stronger option.
Round 6, pick 189: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
Why it’s a nightmare: Another pick where the Titans would be valuing athletic traits over play skill. Smith has the ability to stretch a field better than maybe any other receiver in this class. Pairing him with Calvin Ridley could be interesting. But time and again, Smith didn’t live up to his ability in college. Even as far as late-round gambles go, the Titans should be looking for more reliable types of players at premium positions of need.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
