When it comes to NFL draft experts, Todd McShay is considered one of the best in the business.
And when McShay speaks about anything draft-related, people tend to listen.
So when the former ESPN-turned-The Ringer draft analyst tweeted on Wednesday who he believes the Tennessee Titans will take with the No. 1 overall pick on April 24, it naturally piqued some interest on social media.
The Titans' two biggest moves of free agency so far have been with the offensive line. The team signed former Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million deal and ex-Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler, a former Pro Bowler, to a one-year, $9 million deal.
The two free-agent additions round out the two-year overhaul Tennessee has done along its O-line, which includes drafting right tackle JC Latham and left guard Peter Skoronski with its first-round picks the last two seasons and signing center Lloyd Cushenberry to a four-year, $50 million contract last offseason.
The Titans' clear focus on beefing up in the trenches points to the team eyeing one player with the top pick in next month's draft according to McShay.
"Gearing up to protect Cam Ward," McShay tweeted.
Gearing up to protect Cam Ward. https://t.co/ErWR54dI9F
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 12, 2025
Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Ward currently has the best odds of being the No. 1 overall pick at minus-320 followed by Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter (plus-210), Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter (plus-1700) and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (plus-2600).
Multiple reports have indicated the Titans prefer Ward, the reigning ACC Player of the Year who won the Davey O'Brien and Manning awards after leading the NCAA with 39 touchdown passes and finishing second with 4,313 yards passing, to Sanders, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year who won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award after passing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns this season.
Ward is a player McShay has been high on recently, and it would likely surprise very few if he's who the Titans do end up taking if they keep the No. 1 overall pick.
"It's almost like watching an electrical storm in the summer," McShay recently said of Ward to SI.com. "It's exciting and it's different. You're also like what did I just see? He's so f--king chill. He's so laissez-faire.
"There are certain plays where you're like, Does he know we're in the middle of a game? Does he think it's a 7 on 7? But sometimes your greatest strength can be your fatal flaw. He tests the water too much, and he's casual. … And of the guys we're talking about, the ball pops out of his hand."
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM.