2024 was a pitiful year for the Tennessee Titans, with roster holes becoming apparent every week Borgonzi and head coach Brian Callahan had to nail the draft in Green Bay, kick off this new era in style and give their fans a roster to get excited for come September.
I'll be grading the Titans' 2025 draft picks based on where the players were taken off the board, their talent as a prospect, and how they'll fit into the Titans' roster, and we'll start with the new face of their franchise.
Round 1, Pick 1 - Cam Ward, QB, Miami Hurricanes - A
This was an inevitable selection for the Titans. Callahan gets his guy to lead his offence, and Cam Ward gets to walk straight into a starting role. Ward will be determined to get the franchise back to competing for the division, and he has the talent to match that ambition. If Ward can tighten up his footwork, limit turnovers and connect with his weapons, the franchise could be looking at a promising year. For now, he's just got to put his head down, work hard and prove his doubters wrong.
Round 2, Pick 52 - Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA Bruins - B+
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Trade: TEN receives R2, P52 + R3, P82 from SEA for R2, P35.
Many may be disappointed with the selection of Femi Oladejo, but Tennessee is desperate for some extra juice in that department. After two games at linebacker last season, he switched to EDGE and hasn't looked back. Oladejo recorded 57 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and 13.5 TFLs in 12 games, a solid output for an individual who's learning on the job. But the acquisition of his talent is more than what he can provide on the field. Femi is a culture setter as well as a damn good football player, he's someone who'll lead by example, those types of characters are what Tennessee lack plenty of, not to mention he'll combined nicely with Jeffery Simmons and T'vondre Sweat at the line of scrimmage.
Round 3, Pick 82 - Kevin Winston Jr. - S, Penn State - A+
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The first steal of the Titans draft came in the form of Penn State safety Kevin Winston. You'll be wondering how drafting a safety in the third round is a steal? But my god, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has got himself one of the most talented players in the class. Winston is first-round draft worthy if not for an ACL tear after three games into the 2024 campaign. Borgonzi is betting on his ability to recover and stay fit, and he'll provide much-needed quality in the Titans' backfield. Winston excels at tackling and is a versatile defensive piece if Callahan wants to run a variety of defensive packages.
Round 4, Pick 103 - Chimere Dike - WR, Florida Gators - B
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A slight reach I feel on this one, but with wide receivers coming off the board in quick fashion, Tennessee decided to pull the trigger on the speedster from Florida. Dike ran a 4.34 at the NFL Combine in February, tied third amongst all WRs, and will add some much-needed twitch to a thin WR core. I like his tape, as a prospect I'd say the 22-year-old is slightly underrated, he's great at catching in traffic and comes alive at the mid-range routes, Dike averaged 18.6 yards per catch in 2024. I can see the vision with Dike, who can grow into a solid Z option for the Titans and feature on special teams.
Round 4, Pick 120 - Gunnar Helm - TE, Texas Longhorns - A+
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The second steal of the draft came at 120 for the Titans, Helm is sneaky athletic and tenacious with the ball in his vice. Borgonzi is planning to give Ward a variety of options down the field, and Helm can form a strong partnership with the rookie QB as the starting TE, if he impresses in preseason and earns the nod to start. Helm has a great frame for the position and is a willing blocker at the line, but he can also run a slick route as the Y. Tennessee used the board to their advantage on this one and picked up a potential franchise tight end in Day 3 of the draft.
Round 4, Pick 136 - Elic Ayomanor - WR, Stanford Cardinal - A
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Trade: TEN receives R4, P136 + R6, P183 from BAL for R4, P141 + R6, P178
The Titans weren't messing around on Day 3 and made the move to trade up five spots for a third offensive star. Ayomanor has great size and physicality for the position. He excels at contested catches but needs to cut out unnecessary drops of the football. He's able to make separation instantly on his release and is an elusive route runner. Ayomanor has great potential, and I could see him getting the number two role as a rookie.
Round 5, Pick 167 - Jackson Slater - OL, Sacramento State - A-
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What was seen as a weaker class for interior linemen, Tennessee might have found a diamond in the rough in Slater. He's got a nice compact size and can effortlessly drive his opponent backwards once he gets his hands set. Slater is a solid blocker in the run game who uses his athletic ability and quickness to climb to the second level. He's got good technique, but it could do with some work. He managed to dominate for Sacramento State, where he played for four years, but how his game will translate to the NFL versus significantly better athletes is a bit of an eyebrow raiser. It's a solid selection and one for the future of the offensive line, which has already undergone major changes in the offseason.
Round 6, Pick 183 - Marcus Harris - CB, California Golden Bears - C+
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A headscratcher from Tennessee in round 6, don't get me wrong, Harris is a solid athlete, he's aggressive and has good recovery speed, but this wasn't an area on the roster that was screaming out for help; a veteran in free agency would've been better depth at the position. He's a sixth-year, 24-year-old senior, which is concerning, and he's also a little undersized at 5'11" 190 pounds, so this step up will be a challenging one. As a backup it's an okay selection, but one that leaves me feeling a little lost.
Round 6, Pick 188 - Kalel Mullings - RB, Michigan Wolverines - A-
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Tennessee finished their draft in style with the big bruiser from Michigan. Kalel Mullings will slot seamlessly in a dynamic RB room, accompanied by Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. I love the fit, I love the value, and I love his tape. For a big guy his nack for finding nifty pockets and darting through them is damn impressive, not to mention his shifty footwork and power to gain those extra yards after contact. He's a player who'll grow into his role as he adapts to the NFL level, and I can see him picking up half a dozen TDs as a rookie.
Overall Grade - A
Tennessee walk away from Green Bay in high spirits. They got their franchise QB in Cam Ward, made some trades that worked in their favour and picked up culture-setting rookies who'll be eager to get the Titans back competing in the AFC South. It'll be interesting to see how the rookies' journeys will unfold throughout 2025, but I've got a good feeling this draft class is one the franchise will look back on fondly.