NASHVILLE – With training camp just around the corner, it's the perfect time of year to look ahead at the upcoming NFL season and make predictions about the future.

But is it too early to already be looking at the 2025 NFL Draft? Apparently not. Mock drafts are already getting released and they're sparking up some interesting thought experiments..

For example, the latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft released by ESPN's Matt Miller puts the Tennessee Titans in a curious spot with a puzzling dilemma in the first round.

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In Miller's "early first-round predictions" for ESPN, the Titans are saddled with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

In this scenario, that means Tennessee finishes as one of the worst teams in the NFL. Not a good first season under Brian Callahan and not a good sign for QB Will Levis iof that becomes reality. But what I find most interesting about this imaginary scenario is the dilemma for Ran Carthon.

You have the fourth overall pick which means your team likely finished around 4-13 on the season. Will Levis was a second round pick who didn't win enough games in Year 2 with an offensive-minded head coach, veteran weapons, and an improved offensive line. You had an aggressive offseason approach to surround him with talent and see what he can be. Assuming injuries are not at play and the defense is somewhat competent, 4-13 is probably enough to show you that your current quarterback is not your franchise quarterback of the future and you need to make some changes.

And yet in Miller's mock draft, the Titans select Tennessee Vols edge rusher James Pearce Jr…A fine pick. A great player. I'd even say he fills a need. But is there really a world where the Titans lose that many games and don't go hunting for a QB in the first round? I doubt it.

"This is a prove-it season for quarterback Will Levis as a second-year starter, but the early returns were good enough that we can forget about quarterbacks at the top of the draft for now. Instead, the Titans could land my preseason No. 1 overall player," Miller writes after mocking Pearce to stay in Tennessee with the Titans.

Just one problem with that. As Miller says, this is a "prove-it season" for Will Levis. While the Titans may not currently seem like an obvious quarterback landing spot in the 2025 draft, a 4-13 record in a "prove-it season" would likely change that. 

Miller has the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers holding the first two picks in his 2025 mock. He also projecting both teams to trade out of the pick to QB needy teams. Miller has the Giants moving up for Georgia QB Carson Beck and the Raiders moving up for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. I'd be willing to bet the Titans are in on those conversations if this scenario was based in reality. 

Between Beck, Sanders, Quinn Ewers, Riley Leonard, and others, there is plenty of quarterback talent at the top of the 2025 draft class worth taking a chance on. I think it's likely that the Titans grab one of those quarterbacks if they're picking in the Top 5.

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