NASHVILLE – After the Tennessee Titans select Cam Ward with the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it will be easy for fans to tune out and direct their attention elsewhere. 

But after the Titans make their selection, there are still many things for fans to pay attention to and root for. 

What happens at the end of the first round on Thursday night will have massive implications on Tennessee's second round pick. Want a chance to get a really good player at No. 35 or have maximum trade leverage? Here are the thing you need to root for during the first round of the draft.

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Few quarterbacks are drafted

It would benefit the Titans greatly if Cam Ward was the only quarterback selected in the first round. I’m not sure how realistic that actually is because we all know that teams panic and overdraft when it comes to the quarterback position, but the fewer quarterbacks that go, the better for Tennessee.

The Titans are sitting with pick No. 35, which is the third selection of the second round.

Quarterbacks remaining on the board means that a.) the team’s picking in front of Tennessee in Round 2 (CLE, NYG) could take them and leave the best players available on the board. Or b.) a quarterback is still there when the Titans are on the clock, thus giving them maximum trade leverage to move back.

Either way you slice it, I think it’s beneficial for Tennessee to have only one or two quarterbacks hear their name called on Thursday night.

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Only one RB is taken

Running backs are similar to quarterbacks for the Titans. If Ashton Jeanty is the only running back selected in the first round, that’s a win.

Leaving Omarion Hampton, TreVeon Henderson, and the other top running backs on the board could give some teams incentive to trade up for their guy .

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, and Chicago Bears have all been linked to Jeanty. Only one of those teams is actually going to draft him. The other two are going to be forced to pivot to the next tier of RB prospects.

If Hampton and Henderson are both available at 35, I think someone will be extremely motivated to move up. Leverage is always a good thing.

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More lineman than expected

On the opposite side of things, Titans fans should be wanting as many offensive lineman and interior defensive lineman as possible to go in Round 1 . While most people consider this to be a weak draft class on the offensive line, the closer we get to draft day, the more lineman that are being projected to go in the first round.

Tennessee went to great lengths to shore up their offensive line in free agency. Jeffrey Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat have the interior of the defensive line covered. Those are not immediate needs for the Titans. Edge rusher and wide receiver are.

The more offensive lineman and interior defensive lineman that go, the better for Tennessee. It pushes edge rushers and wide receivers further down the board. You never know who might fall.

I’ve seen some final mock drafts that predict 11-12 offensive lineman and defensive lineman to go on Thursday. That’s the mark Titans fans should shoot for. As many of the following players as possible:

• OT Will Campbell

• OT Armand Membou

• OL Jonah Savaiinaea

• OL Donovan Jackson

• OL Tyler Booker

• OL Grey Zabel

• OT Aireontae Ersery

• OT Josh Conerly Jr.

• OT Josh Simmons

• OT Kelvin Banks

• DL Mason Graham

• DL Walter Nolan

• DL Derrick Harmon

• DL Kenneth Grant

• DL Darius Alexander

Warren Moon may say the right thing, but the Titans should keep jersey No. 1 retired after drafting Cam Ward

The Titans should not let Cam Ward wear Warren Moon’s No. 1 jersey.