The Tennessee Titans finished tied for the worst record in the NFL last year at 3-14, which helped position them to land Miami QB Cam Ward with the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Projecting their 2025 season will be difficult without seeing what the former Miami star can do at the professional level, but Titans fans are right to be excited about Ward's ceiling. Expectations are also quite low in Tennessee, and head coach Brian Callahan is hoping to overachieve in his second year on the job.
Projected win total: 5.5 (BetMGM)
Outlook: Callahan and Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi claim Ward and Will Levis will compete for the starting QB job in training camp, but everyone wants to see the rookie in Week 1. Ward would have to fall flat on his face in training camp to begin the year on the bench.
The Titans have surrounded Ward with solid offensive weapons. Even in a terrible year for the team, running back Tony Pollard proved to be a worthy free agent signing with 1,370 total scrimmage yards and five touchdowns in his first season in Tennessee.
Calvin Ridley, another one of the Titans' big free-agent signings last year, was also productive in 2024 with 64 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns despite erratic quarterback play. Tennessee signed WR Tyler Lockett to a one-year, $4M contract this offseason, which could prove to be a steal if the 32-year-old stays healthy.
The Titans had a solid draft after making the obvious pick at No. 1 with Ward. Edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo and safety Kevin Winston Jr. have a chance to immediately help a defense that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in points allowed last season but near the top in yards allowed.
Tennessee also made an aggressive move to keep Ward upright by signing veteran left tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82M deal in free agency.
Outside of their seven AFC South games, the Titans have a few tough opponents in the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. They will also face several fellow rebuilding teams like the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.
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You could make the argument that the Titans are the easiest opponent on every team's schedule, but their own schedule is not exactly intimidating — even for 2024's worst team.
Our take: The Titans will go as far as Ward can take them in 2025. While starting as a rookie quarterback in the NFL is never easy, Ward will be doing so in what should easily be the weakest division in football. That should give Tennessee a fighting chance to surpass its projected win total, though probably not by much.
Predicted win total: 6
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