Way-Too-Early 2025 Tennessee Titans Predictions Based On OTAs: A big Cam Ward narrative, WR breakout season loading, roster locks
Going with my gut based on the first practice
OTAs are underway across the league, and the Tennessee Titans just wrapped up their first week of Phase 3 activities. Local media was allowed to attend Wednesday’s practice, and we saw an hour’s worth of work from the new team.
I spent the majority of this first media practice focused on the offensive side of the ball. There are still over 3 full months before anybody takes a live snap in a real game, but sometimes what your gut at first glance tells you is just the God’s honest truth! So let’s put that to the test: here are five way-too-early takes about this team based on the first practice of the year:
Cam Ward’s Aggression Is Story Of The Year
When four QBs are having to split reps throughout a practice, it can be hard to get big enough sample sizes to notice anything of importance. But while Ward wasn’t taking “first” reps in the rotation, he was certainly getting the outsized share (as he should be). And one thing stood out immediately about him in comparison to the others: he wasn’t checking the ball down.
Every time he stepped back to throw, Cam was looking to push the ball downfield. His first pass of 7-on-7 was a shot right up the middle of the defense through traffic to Gunnar Helm. He kept testing the boundaries too, trying Ridley and Ayomanor a handful of times. And on reps where time ran out and the pocket broke down, he would scramble or hold tight, almost insisting on a finding an open man.
His counterparts were happy to take the easy buckets. So what does that mean? That’s hard to say yet. But I think after a year spent trying to beat the recklessness out of Will Levis (mostly in vain), we could be in for a year of Cam Ward aggressiveness that manifests as both a blessing and a curse. If you watched him in college, this approach isn’t really anything new. And while I don’t think he’ll be as tilted in a real game to get the ball deep as he is in a May practice, I do suspect this is a glimpse into the style of quarterbacking we see a lot of this year.
Elic Ayomanor Will Be A Household Name
The Titans added three intriguing rookie receivers that fans have their eyes on this summer: a pair of 4th rounders in Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, and surprise UDFA Xavier Restrepo. It’s still extremely early in the professional development of all three, who each have some strong traits to be intrigued by, but I felt my priors being confirmed watching Ayomanor for the first time in-person.
I think he’s the only true X receiver on this football team. He’s got the build and the burst I’m looking for in a dominant NFL receiver. Take a look at number 5 in relation to the other newcomer receivers in this clip:
He made a couple plays in this first practice that showed a proof of concept for what they can do to turn him into a winner. This is a player who could succeed at all three levels of the field in college, and I think that’s going to translate. Check out the full-body extension on the final pass in this video compilation:
If you’ve followed my work at all this year, you know Ayomanor has been a favorite of mine since long before the Titans drafted him. I think he’s going to be a starter for this team very soon.
Van Jefferson Is a Roster Lock
I’ve been reticent to lock-in on Van Jefferson making this roster. Having watched his tape in Pittsburgh last year, I just wasn’t left inspired at all. And I think the best-case scenario for this team is that younger, higher-ceiling receivers on the roster pass him up over the summer. But I jumped to this conclusion on the very first receiver drill I watched on Wednesday: “…never mind, he’s making the team.”
Jefferson looks really good out there. He is noticeably built, and moves with an athleticism to match the physique. He stands out amongst that room pretty noticeably. To his credit, he’s a pro’s-pro. He should look different right now. But I think he is substantially better and safer than enough of these project receivers to ensure him a roster spot, at least to begin the season.
Treylon Burks’ Health Is A Non-Factor
Everybody was surprised to see Treylon Burks participating in a decent amount of practice already. We were also surprised by how much bigger he looks than at this time last year. That’s not all that surprising when you think about the path he’s been on. A year ago he was much lighter than we had been used to seeing, and that was a big talking point. Skinny Treylon! And now he’s coming off of months of ACL recovery, keeping him cooped up more than he otherwise would be.
Size-aside, he was moving just fine. Just because he’s noticeably bigger doesn’t mean he’s out of shape. And it was impressive seeing him as mobile and involved as he was already. I can at least speak for myself in saying that I didn’t expect him back so soon.
But I don’t think any of that is going to matter. A lot of the Burks roster discourse has hinged on whether he was hurt enough to be a PUP list guy by cutdown day. That may be out of the picture now, but either way, I just don’t see him being good enough at football to earn a spot in this room. He’s simply been passed up by players who are better and/or more valuable assets. Burks will be sent to PUP or cut in late August, and right now, I’m leaning towards cut. I wish the best of luck to him wherever he lands.
A Will Levis Trade Really Is Coming
Anybody else growing tired of talking about this? I get it, because I am too. But I really do think a preseason trade is in the cards if everything goes to plan for the Titans and Levis.
He spoke with us for a solid 5 minutes after practice and per his usual, gave us some great answers we were very grateful for. He didn’t hold back on being honest about his emotions right now. He’s not in an enviable position. But he also made clear that he’s being a pro and a good teammate, and is singularly focused on being the best version of himself for the next time his number is called.
I think that will be with another team. It’s what the team would like, and it’s what Levis’ camp would like. All they need is a suitor to come along this summer, and I think a carefully-orchestrated offseason of hype and quality showcasing will get the job done eventually. Wednesday was a solid start to that campaign.
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