The Tennessee Titans, fresh off a 3-14 season in 2024, are poised for a rebound in 2025. Armed with the No. 1 overall draft pick, a revamped receiving corps, and strategic free-agent signings, the Titans aim to climb out of the AFC South basement.
The newly released 2025 schedule offers a mix of winnable games and daunting challenges, but with rookie quarterback Cam Ward at the helm, optimism is creeping into Nashville. Fans project 6-8 wins, a modest but achievable goal. Can the Titans’ new additions and schedule align to make that happen?
The Titans’ 2025 schedule, released on May 14, reflects their last-place finish, granting them one of the NFL’s lighter strengths of schedule. The full slate, per the Titans’ official site, includes:
Denver is a tough place to play, rookie QB’s first game or not, with a talented defense that ranked 2nd in sacks and 13th in takeaways. A mid-season bye is ideal, and five of their final eight games are at home. Splitting their six divisional games and stealing victories against the Cardinals, Saints, and Patriots could push Tennessee to 6-8 wins, especially if their offense gels.
The Titans’ 2025 draft class, headlined by quarterback Cam Ward, is the engine of their rebuild. Selected first overall out of Miami, Ward’s NCAA-record 158 passing touchdowns and dual-threat ability make him a potential franchise cornerstone. His 4,313 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in 2024 at Miami suggest he could throw for 4,000 yards as a rookie, elevating an offense that ranked 27th in scoring last season (18.3 points per game). Ward’s ability to extend plays will help a revamped Titans’ offensive line and their improved receiving corps.
The Titans also drafted UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo (Round 2), Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. (Round 3), wide receivers Chimere Dike (Florida), Elic Ayomanor (Stanford), and tight end Gunnar Helm (Texas) in Round 4. Oladejo’s 13.5 tackles for loss in 2024 bolster a pass rush that managed only 32 sacks last year, while Winston’s size (6-2, 215 pounds) could solidify the secondary.
Dike’s 4.34-second 40-yard dash and Ayomanor’s 6-2 frame give Ward speed and size, and Helm’s 60 catches at Texas make him an immediate red-zone threat. Later picks like guard Jackson Slater, cornerback Marcus Harris, and running back Kalel Mullings add depth, with Mullings’ 230-pound frame giving the Titans the changeup in the backfield they’ve been looking for.
Since the end of the season, the Titans have made calculated free-agent moves to support Ward and address roster holes. Key signings include wide receiver Tyler Lockett, whose 49 catches for 600 yards with Seattle in 2024 bring veteran polish to the receiving corps. Right guard Kevin Zeitler, signed from Detroit, strengthens an offensive line that allowed 52 sacks last season, sixth-most in the NFL.
Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, inked from Seattle, adds pass-rush juice (4 sacks in 2024), while safety Xavier Woods (13 career interceptions) and linebacker Cody Barton fill glaring holes in an otherwise solid defense. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr., signed from Pittsburgh, slides into the LT position, shifting 2nd-year pro JC Latham back to his more natural RT spot.
With approximately $30 million in cap space remaining in 2025, per Over The Cap, the Titans still have room to make moves while preserving flexibility for in-season adjustments. These signings, particularly Lockett and Zeitler, give Ward the tools to succeed and could push the offense toward a top-20 ranking, a leap that supports the 6-8 win projection.
The Titans’ receiving corps is a blend of proven veterans and promising newcomers, but only six are likely to make the 53-man roster. Calvin Ridley, coming off a 1,000-yard season, is the unquestioned WR1, thriving as a deep threat and route technician. Tyler Lockett’s reliability and slot prowess should secure his spot as WR2.
Rookie Elic Ayomanor, with his 6-2 frame and 34 contested catches over two college seasons, projects as a WR3 with red-zone potential. Chimere Dike’s blazing speed makes him a deep-ball weapon, while undrafted free agent Xavier Restrepo, Ward’s college teammate at Miami, brings chemistry and slot-receiver savvy. Rounding out the group is Bryce Oliver, a 2024 undrafted free agent who flashed late last season with 6 catches for 95 yards over the final nine games, showing growth late into the season.
Treylon Burks, a 2022 first-rounder, misses the cut due to persistent injuries (including a 2024 ACL tear) and underwhelming production (699 yards and one touchdown over three seasons). Veterans like Van Jefferson and James Proche II also face long odds, likely relegated to the practice squad or cut outright. This six-man group—Ridley, Lockett, Ayomanor, Dike, Restrepo, and Oliver—gives Ward a versatile arsenal, balancing experience with youth to drive the offense.
The Titans’ path to 6-8 wins hinges on three factors: Ward’s development, offensive improvement, and 2nd year coach Brian Callahan’s growth. Ward’s ability to stretch defenses with Ridley and Dike, plus his mobility, could boost the Titans’ scoring output closer to 30 points per game.
Running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, who combined for 1,853 scrimmage yards in 2024, complement Ward’s passing game, especially with Zeitler and Moore fortifying the line. Defensively, Oladejo and Jones could push the team’s sack total closer to 40, while Winston and Woods help a secondary that allowed 27.1 points per game last year.
The schedule plays a key role, too. Tennessee can realistically win three divisional games (Jaguars twice, Colts once), plus non-division matchups against the Cardinals, Saints, and Patriots. A 6-11 record is the floor if Ward struggles early, but 8-9 is possible if he clicks with his receivers and Callahan’s playcalling improves. The lack of primetime games—zero in 2025—might keep the Titans hungry and playing with a chip on their shoulder.
The Titans are no longer the AFC South’s doormat. With Cam Ward’s arm, a dynamic receiving corps, and free agent signings like Lockett and Zeitler, Tennessee has the pieces to hit 6-8 wins. The schedule’s early winnable games and late home-heavy stretch provide a runway for success. Will Ward and his new weapons spark a playoff push, or is 2025 just the first step in a longer rebuild? Titans fans, what’s your take—can this team surprise in 2025?
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