CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the 2025 NFL season draws closer for the Browns, it’s time to look at what each of the teams they will play this season has changed ahead of the season.
I will provide these opponent breakdowns over the next several weeks leading up to the start of the season as we look at the biggest addition, subtraction, best draft pick and what they all mean for when they play the Browns.
Next up in our series is the Browns’ Week 14 opponent: the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans finished last season tied with the Browns for the worst record in the league, but they got the first overall pick in the draft. With that pick, and a slew of veteran additions, is Tennessee ready to turn the corner in 2025?
Here is a look at the Titans offseason.
Check out links to earlier editions of this series at the bottom of this post.
Biggest addition: Cam Ward.
The Titans brought in a lot of notable players this offseason including receiver Tyler Lockett, tackle Dan Moore Jr. and edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones.
But nothing for Tennessee is more significant than the first overall pick: quarterback Cam Ward. We’ll talk more about the player and what he brings later.
From a Titans perspective, they need this quarterback position to work. They’ve had multiple first-round busts at the position in the 2000s with Vince Young, Jake Locker and Marcus Mariota all not panning out. 2023 second-round pick Will Levis also didn’t work out.
Ward was clearly the top quarterback in this class, so the Titans got their guy. Now the pressure is on them to get him ready to be the guy going forward.
Biggest subtraction: Harold Landry Jr.
Landry has been a quality pass rusher for the Titans ever since they took him 41st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has had at least nine sacks in four separate seasons.
But Landry left the team that drafted him and signed with the Patriots for three years and $43.5 million.
They drafted UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo in the second round to provide youth to their pass rush. However, he will have big shoes to fill with Landry’s departure.
Best draft pick: Ward.
While the Titans made some nice picks later in the draft when they took Texas’ Gunnar Helm and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor in the fourth round, their draft ultimately comes down to Ward.
The former Miami quarterback’s arm talent and improvisation ability as a passer made him the No. 1 passer in this draft, separating himself from Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart among others the longer the draft process went.
Tennessee’s limited moves at quarterback almost guarantee Ward will start right away. He may be a little raw still, but the talent is undeniable.
What it means in their matchup with the Browns
The Browns, who had the second pick behind the Titans, didn’t have a chance at Ward. So this meeting is a look at what the Browns couldn’t get in the electrifying Ward.
When he faces the Browns, Ward will have to deal with Cleveland’s defensive line, which is still among the best in football. It will be a good test for him to play against Myles Garrett, and for the Browns to go against a quarterback who can create with his legs the way Ward does.
Ward also has a sneaky good group of offensive skill players with Tony Pollard at running back and Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson at receiver. So while the Titans might not be the most talented team in the league, Ward’s talent gives them an opportunity to play above their talent level, meaning they might not be an easy out.
Catch up on the series
Cincinnati Bengals, Weeks 1 and 18
Baltimore Ravens, Weeks 2 and 11
Green Bay Packers, Week 3
Detroit Lions, Week 4
Minnesota Vikings, Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers, Weeks 6 and 17
Miami Dolphins, Week 7
New England Patriots, Week 8
New York Jets, Week 10
Las Vegas Raiders, Week 12
San Francisco 49ers, Week 13
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