- Head coach: Brian Callahan (second season)
- PFF projected win total: 6.3
- 2024 record: 3-14 (fourth in AFC South)
Biggest Strength: Interior Defensive Line
Tennessee’s defensive tackles ranked second in the NFL in PFF grade last season while leading the league in PFF run-defense grade by a wide margin. The star was Jeffery Simmons, who placed ninth in PFF overall grade and racked up 45 pressures. Second-round rookie T'Vondre Sweat turned in an excellent 75.0 PFF run-defense grade, placing him ninth among qualified interior defenders. Veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day slotted in one spot ahead of Sweat in those rankings with a 77.7 mark.
Biggest Weakness: Linebackers
Five linebackers played at least 200 snaps last season for the Titans, and none remain on their 2025 roster. The team's only linebacker with significant experience is Cody Barton, who posted a 64.3 PFF overall grade last season in Denver. The other options at the position for Tennessee are James Williams, Otis Reese IV and Cedric Gray. They have combined to play fewer than 400 snaps in their respective careers.
Quarterback Spotlight: Cam Ward
- 2024 PFF Grade: 92.9
- Key Stat: 95.7 PFF passing grade on 10-plus-yard targets (led FBS)
In his lone season playing for the Miami Hurricanes, Ward ascended from a likely Day 3 pick to the first overall selection, courtesy of consistently dominant performances. He ranked among the FBS leaders in a slew of passing metrics while playing with his trademark swagger. Ward’s most outstanding trait is his vision and bravery while throwing the football into tight windows. That can occasionally get him into trouble, but the good generally outweighs the bad, especially when he is playing on time.
Offensive Player: WR Calvin Ridley
Ridley is clearly the top pass-catching option in Tennessee. Despite the Titans' ranking dead last in PFF passing grade, Ridley recorded his third career 1,000-yard season while producing a solid 74.7 PFF receiving grade. He still does an excellent job of separating downfield, ranking among the top 25 wide receivers in intermediate and deep PFF receiving grade during the 2024 regular season.
Defensive Player: DI Jeffery Simmons
Simmons recorded the third 80-plus PFF overall grade of his career in 2024. He also generated at least 40 pressures for the fifth consecutive season. At his best, Simmons is an incredibly balanced playmaker. He was one of just three qualified defensive tackles, along with Cameron Heyward and Dexter Lawrence, to earn a top-12 finish in PFF run-defense grade and PFF pass-rush grade.
Rookie to Watch: S Kevin Winston Jr.
Winston is an intriguing player out of Penn State who may have been in the first-round conversation had he not missed the majority of last season with a knee injury. In 2023, he earned an outstanding 89.2 PFF overall grade and did not miss a tackle. Winston’s aggression close to the line of scrimmage could be very helpful to the Titans’ secondary sooner rather than later.
Fantasy Spotlight: RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Spears started his NFL career as a receiving-down back, complementing Derrick Henry, and then was the backup to Tony Pollard. He’s shown a great ability to avoid tackles in the passing game, but that hasn’t been enough to be a fantasy starter. However, during the fantasy playoffs last season, Pollard was injured and Spears scored the fifth-most fantasy points over the three-game stretch. Ideally, that strong play late in the season will be enough for Spears to earn more playing time in 2025 — and potentially the starting role over Pollard.
Best Bet: QB Cam Ward — Over 3225.5 passing yards (-105)
Ward earned an FBS-best 92.9 PFF overall grade last season at Miami and brings a big-play mentality, evidenced by his 6.3% big-time throw rate. That aggressiveness can be a double-edged sword in the NFL, but a fearless approach can pay off big. While the Titans are relatively light in proven receiving talent, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett are capable weapons who can carry the load while one of the team's young receiving threats develops.
Bottom Line
Barring a Jayden Daniels-esque performance, Cam Ward’s development is likely to be the headline story for the Titans this season. If he shows promise, then the team can begin to fill holes at wide receiver, tight end, edge defender and linebacker next offseason.
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