The Tennessee Titans are entering a new era as a franchise, and the hope is that the two most recent draft classes will be the youth movement that propels them into contention once again. It’s all a part of a multi-year rebuilding effort that really started back up from the ground floor this offseason. There were a lot of reasons why this team declined precipitously the last three seasons, but none more damaging than their talent development.

They drew mostly blanks in the 2020-2023 drafts. In those four cycles, they made 29 selections. Only three of those players are starters today, with two others still around and of any consequence. LG Peter Skoronski, TE Chig Okonkwo, and CB Roger McCreary were the only hits from that, well, full presidential term. Toss in RB2 Tyjae Spears and TE Josh Whyle, who may not even be on the team this year, and that’s all Tennessee has to show from those drafts.

That’s how you become a bad football team in a hurry. The way to climb out of that hole, of course, is to nail a couple of drafts. And while it’s still extremely early to make any sweeping judgements of the 2024 and 2025 classes, there is a whole lot of optimism inside and outside of Titans HQ for these young men to turn the page.

The 2024 class has already produced at least three starters—RT JC Latham, DT T’Vondre Sweat, and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr—with the added possibility of LB’s Cedric Gray or James Williams stepping up as the starter alongside Cody Barton this fall.

But what about the 2025 class? Who will become a starter, and perhaps more importantly, when?

Because the bones of this roster have been stripped away a decent bit in an effort to rebuild, I see the opportunity for as many as six of these rookies to record their first start in 2025. I’ve predicted when and why each of them will hear their name announced as a starter on a Sunday, so let’s dive in:

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QB Cam Ward- Week 1

I shouldn’t have to explain why Cam Ward is a lock to start Week 1. The Titans new franchise QB might as well begin gameplanning for the Denver Broncos on September 7th.

WR Elic Ayomanor- Week 1

I’m calling my shot: I think 4th Round rookie Elic Ayomanor will be out there on the Titans opening offensive play from scrimmage in Week 1. He’s been my guy since the draft process, and I believe in his ability to both physically and mentally get up to speed in the NFL in a hurry. He’s the only true X receiver on this roster for my money, and that’s where I think he’s lined up to begin the year. I was really encouraged by what we’ve seen from him in practice so far, and look forward to his continued progress in Training Camp.

WR Chimere Dike- Week 5

I’m going to say that after a month of the season, 4th Round rookie Chimere Dike gets flipped with Tyler Lockett in the rotation. I think he’ll be involved in the offense from Day 1, and the progress he makes in the first month will give his coaches the confidence to make him the official starter.

In reality, it’s always hard to gauge how much deference a coaching staff will give the veterans that the rookies have to unseat. But nobody in that position besides Tyler Lockett has many pelts on the wall, and Lockett was still available in late April for a reason. I think this staff will be pretty fast and loose with how quickly they get the rookies in there to catch passes, and if all goes to plan, it can be done simply in the name of starting the best players. So maybe that means Dike will start earlier than Ayomanor, or they’ll both officially get the nod a couple games into the year. Whatever the case, I think they both get elevated early on.

TE Gunnar Helm- Week 11

4th Round TE Gunnar Helm might be the best tight end on this roster by opening weekend. I think he could be the Day 3 rookie that is the most productive in their first year. But he’s behind Chig Okonkwo on the depth chart, and it may take some time for Helm to surpass him as an official starter. He also plays a slightly different role than Chig, who is largely an “F” or “move” tight end. Helm will lineup as the Y inline tight end, and outside of 12 personnel sets, they won’t be on the field at the same time. So given Chig’s versatile role and veteran status, Gunnar might come off the bench a lot this year.

I’m projecting his first start to come as early as Week 11, the first week following the Titans’ bye. This is a traditionally ideal spot to make these kinds of switches because of the opportunity to do a light reset and prep for two weeks before your next game.

EDGE Femi Oladejo- Week 15

2nd Round rookie Femi Oladejo is going to be heavily involved in the Titans pass rush rotation this year, because he has to be. Outside of Dre’Mont Jones and Arden Key, the Titans don’t have anybody else in this rotation with much upside. But what’s the fuss? He’s a 2nd round pick, of course he should be expected to play!

Yes, but he’s not a prospect in the mold of a plug-and-play starter. Both of the rookie defenders the Titans drafted on Day 2 are 2-3 year investments. Oladejo isn’t on track to peak developmentally this year, because he’s only played 10 games at EDGE in his college career. Would it be impossible for him to surprise us with how ahead of schedule he is this year? No, but I’m not going to be banking on that happening. I’m projecting a Week 15 start for Femi, which feels arbitrary. What does the 49ers game have to do with anything?

Well, that’s when Harold Landry got his first official start in 2018. He was Tennessee’s 2nd round pick that year, and was eased into the rotation as a rookie. He had 2.5 sacks by the time he got his first starts in the final 3 games of the season. I look at that year for Harold and could see a similar rookie year for Oladejo.

S Kevin Winston Jr- Week 15

3rd Rounder Kevin Winston Jr. is a 2-3 year investment because of the ACL tear he suffered at the beginning of his final college season. Now, all indications are that he’s on track to be ready to contribute as early as Week 1 if everything goes well. But how quickly will he be back to the “full speed” we wait for post-ACL guys to get to? It could always take a little bit. And that’s all on top of them easing him in as a rookie in the first place. He has to luxury of being behind two capable starters in the safety room, so if they stay healthy, he doesn’t have to be rushed in.

I do see him taking the mantle as a starter eventually, though. So I’m projecting him to get his first official start in Week 15 also. Perhaps it’s due to an injury, or the season winding down, or that he’s just proven himself worthy of taking over.

OL Jackson Slater- Week 1, 2026

Finally, while I don’t see 5th Rounder Jackson Slater being asked to start a game in 2025 (unless the injury bug strikes the OL), I do see him taking over at RG in 2026. I think that’s the development path his coaches tentatively have him on, as Kevin Zeitler is an aging veteran on a one year deal.

Best Of The Rest

Here are four other rookies who could hypothetically tally a start this year in extenuating circumstances. The Titans CB room seems to be supported by toothpicks—more on that here—so if things go sideways with health or performance, 6th Rounder Marcus Harris or UDFA Jermari Harris could get a nod. 6th Round RB Kalel Mullings could see a start if both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears go down. And UDFA WR Xavier Restrepo remains a threat to just weasel his way into a start or two somehow. I won’t count that guy out entirely until I see him fail. Which, so far, I haven’t.