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Let's give the computers their chance here.
Using NFL mock draft simulators from the Pro Football Network, NFL Draft Buzz, Pro Football Focus, ESPN and the NFL Mock Draft Database, The Tennessean simulated the 2025 NFL Draft 100 times, tracking the Tennessee Titans' moves across all 100 simulations. Some of these simulators allowed trades. Others didn't. But most consequentially, all of them revealed interesting truths about the way the Titans are viewed nationally heading into this month's draft.
Here are five takeaways from playing with the NFL mock draft simulators.
MOCK DRAFT: NFL mock draft 2025, all trades edition: Tennessee Titans land 2 Pro Bowlers, including a QB
The Titans ended up with Ward in 63 of these simulations. Once, weirdly, they were able to draft him in the second round, which ― let's be real ― will not happen. But the other 62 times, they used the No. 1 pick to snag the Miami passer.
Edge rusher Abdul Carter was the second-most-common option, going first 13 times. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders landed with the Titans 11 times, and his teammate Travis Hunter went first nine times. The Titans traded out of the No. 1 pick four times and, strangely, used the top pick to draft Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron once, which might be even wilder than Ward falling into the second round.
The simulators don't forecast the Titans trading away the No. 1 pick for anything short of a future first-rounder and a ready-made Pro Bowler. All four of the top-pick trades were predicted via NFL Draft Buzz, who made matches such as Dallas giving the Titans their QB, Dak Prescott, and a future first-round pick to move up. Or, in a move that would make Titans fans recoil, Indianapolis moving up by giving the Titans two first-rounders, two second-rounders and QB Anthony Richardson.
The strength of deniable offers for the No. 1 pick varies. NFL Mock Draft Database offers trades ranging from the Jets giving up their first four picks this year to the Patriots giving up half of next year's draft. Pro Football Focus, meanwhile, tells you a trade that deals No. 1 for all of the Giants' 14 picks across 2026 and 2027 would "likely be accepted." So be cautious there.
The computers seem to think the Titans' plan for the second round is to value talent over need. Across 100 mock drafts, the simulators mocked 45 different players to the Titans in the second round from 10 different positions. The most common outcome was the Titans drafting an edge rusher; that happened 25 times. Receiver came up the next most often with 17 selections. But then there was quarterback, running back, tight end, offensive tackle, interior offensive line, interior defensive line, cornerback and safety which all popped up between four and 10 times.
GRADING TITANS ROSTER: Grading Tennessee Titans roster at every position one month before NFL draft
The lesson here? The computers don't seem to think the Titans are prioritizing fixing their biggest needs over improving the roster as a whole.
Other than Ward, the second-most-common player mocked to the Titans in these simulations was Maryland receiver Tai Felton. The speedy straight-line threat popped up a whopping 26 times. No one else (other than Ward) showed up more than 15 times.
All five of the simulators landed Felton with the Titans at least twice, with the Titans picking him as early as pick No. 103 and as late as pick No. 188. If it was up to the computers, this was a pick you could carve in marble.
Here are three of the simulations that stood out as the best:
In Simulation 19, the Titans maneuvered around by trading picks 103, 120 and 167 to get picks 94, 137, 172 and 234. This resulted in three top-50 talents and a bunch of depth pieces on defense. In Simulation 35, the Titans opt for building the future rather than trying to win now, trading a future second-round pick and Sebastian Joseph-Day to bet on a couple of developmental quarterbacks, some plug-and-play late round options and two fascinating former No. 1 national recruits. Then there's Simulation 61, where the Titans stick in their eight picks and build for today by picking no-doubt starters at their two biggest areas of need and rotational pieces who can develop into more across the defensive line and receiving corps.
Drafts that look like any of those options could be the kind that get the Titans an 'A' grade after draft weekend, and position this team for plenty of success down the line.
OPTIONS: What New York Giants signing Russell Wilson means for Tennessee Titans, NFL draft and Cam Ward
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 100 Titans simulated NFL mock drafts. Here's what the computers think
Continue reading...
Using NFL mock draft simulators from the Pro Football Network, NFL Draft Buzz, Pro Football Focus, ESPN and the NFL Mock Draft Database, The Tennessean simulated the 2025 NFL Draft 100 times, tracking the Tennessee Titans' moves across all 100 simulations. Some of these simulators allowed trades. Others didn't. But most consequentially, all of them revealed interesting truths about the way the Titans are viewed nationally heading into this month's draft.
Here are five takeaways from playing with the NFL mock draft simulators.
MOCK DRAFT: NFL mock draft 2025, all trades edition: Tennessee Titans land 2 Pro Bowlers, including a QB
NFL mock draft simulator lesson #1: Cam Ward ― favorite, not lock
The Titans ended up with Ward in 63 of these simulations. Once, weirdly, they were able to draft him in the second round, which ― let's be real ― will not happen. But the other 62 times, they used the No. 1 pick to snag the Miami passer.
Edge rusher Abdul Carter was the second-most-common option, going first 13 times. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders landed with the Titans 11 times, and his teammate Travis Hunter went first nine times. The Titans traded out of the No. 1 pick four times and, strangely, used the top pick to draft Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron once, which might be even wilder than Ward falling into the second round.
NFL mock draft simulator lesson #2: Tennessee Titans trades look funny
The simulators don't forecast the Titans trading away the No. 1 pick for anything short of a future first-rounder and a ready-made Pro Bowler. All four of the top-pick trades were predicted via NFL Draft Buzz, who made matches such as Dallas giving the Titans their QB, Dak Prescott, and a future first-round pick to move up. Or, in a move that would make Titans fans recoil, Indianapolis moving up by giving the Titans two first-rounders, two second-rounders and QB Anthony Richardson.
The strength of deniable offers for the No. 1 pick varies. NFL Mock Draft Database offers trades ranging from the Jets giving up their first four picks this year to the Patriots giving up half of next year's draft. Pro Football Focus, meanwhile, tells you a trade that deals No. 1 for all of the Giants' 14 picks across 2026 and 2027 would "likely be accepted." So be cautious there.
NFL mock draft simulator lesson #3: The second round is the wild west
The computers seem to think the Titans' plan for the second round is to value talent over need. Across 100 mock drafts, the simulators mocked 45 different players to the Titans in the second round from 10 different positions. The most common outcome was the Titans drafting an edge rusher; that happened 25 times. Receiver came up the next most often with 17 selections. But then there was quarterback, running back, tight end, offensive tackle, interior offensive line, interior defensive line, cornerback and safety which all popped up between four and 10 times.
GRADING TITANS ROSTER: Grading Tennessee Titans roster at every position one month before NFL draft
The lesson here? The computers don't seem to think the Titans are prioritizing fixing their biggest needs over improving the roster as a whole.
NFL mock draft simulator lesson #4: Learn the name Tai Felton, apparently
Other than Ward, the second-most-common player mocked to the Titans in these simulations was Maryland receiver Tai Felton. The speedy straight-line threat popped up a whopping 26 times. No one else (other than Ward) showed up more than 15 times.
All five of the simulators landed Felton with the Titans at least twice, with the Titans picking him as early as pick No. 103 and as late as pick No. 188. If it was up to the computers, this was a pick you could carve in marble.
NFL mock draft simulator lesson #5: What a good Titans NFL draft looks like
Here are three of the simulations that stood out as the best:
- Simulation 19, via Pro Football Network: QB Cam Ward, OLB Mike Green, WR Elic Ayomanor, QB Riley Leonard, S Malachi Moore, DT Rylie Mills, DE Jared Ivey, CB Mello Dotson, DE RJ Oben
- Simulation 35, via NFL Draft Buzz: WR/DB Travis Hunter, DT Walter Nolen, QB Quinn Ewers, ILB Danny Stutsman, OLB Olu Oladejo, S Jonas Sanker, QB Tyler Shough, IOL Seth McLaughlin, WR Dont'e Thornton
- Simulation 61, via ESPN: QB Cam Ward, DE Nic Scourton, RB R.J. Harvey, DT Deone Walker, WR Kyle Williams, DE Tyler Baron, WR Pat Bryant, DT Rylie Mills
In Simulation 19, the Titans maneuvered around by trading picks 103, 120 and 167 to get picks 94, 137, 172 and 234. This resulted in three top-50 talents and a bunch of depth pieces on defense. In Simulation 35, the Titans opt for building the future rather than trying to win now, trading a future second-round pick and Sebastian Joseph-Day to bet on a couple of developmental quarterbacks, some plug-and-play late round options and two fascinating former No. 1 national recruits. Then there's Simulation 61, where the Titans stick in their eight picks and build for today by picking no-doubt starters at their two biggest areas of need and rotational pieces who can develop into more across the defensive line and receiving corps.
Drafts that look like any of those options could be the kind that get the Titans an 'A' grade after draft weekend, and position this team for plenty of success down the line.
OPTIONS: What New York Giants signing Russell Wilson means for Tennessee Titans, NFL draft and Cam Ward
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 100 Titans simulated NFL mock drafts. Here's what the computers think
Continue reading...
