Tennessee

Titans Ideal First Two NFL Draft Picks

Published

9 months ago

April 5, 2025

Chad Reuter of NFL.com published a breakdown with his takes on each team’s ideal first two NFL Draft selections, including the No. 1 and No. 35 picks the Tennessee Titans hold.

Reuter’s two hypothetical Tennessee selections are listed below, and On SI put together some analysis of each projection.

Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) scrambles with the ball against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

If Tennessee picked Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, it would be landing a potential future All-Pro, but it would be upgrading one defensive position by doing so while continuing to have a major quarterback issue. As you know, it’s the most challenging roster weakness to repair and sustain thereafter.

In this hypothetical that, frankly, seems like a given at this point, although the Titans can’t be certain to get the major needle-mover an organization expects of a No. 1 overall selection, they have the opportunity, and the decision-makers simply have to give the quarterback position its best chance to succeed in 2025 and beyond.

“This was the best Pro Day performance I’ve seen in person, and it might not even be close,” CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Ward said, previously attending Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and other quarterbacks Pro Day events.

He can get a little too free with the ball, both in throwing into dangerous areas and while carrying the football, but the upside here is boundless if Ward’s young career stays on the tracks.

Sep 17, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) celebrates a tackle during the first half of the NCAA Division I football game against the Toledo Rockets at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

Ncaa Football Toledo Rockets At Ohio State Buckeyes / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Before the perception shifted to the Titans likely selecting Ward at the top of the draft, many argued that Carter should, and likely would be going No. 1 to Tennessee. There was no shortage of pertinent angles to that argument.

Here are a few: The Titans defense finished second to last in pass defense last season. Only three teams recorded less sacks than Tennessee. Harold Landry is now a New England Patriot.

Well, Carter is long gone by the time the second round rolls around in Reuter’s projection, but Tennessee snags a fantastic talent in national champion Buckeye JT Tuimlolau. At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, the Washington native clocked a solid 4.62 at the combine, and his production in 2024 was excellent.

61 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 12 ½ sacks along with three pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles. And a bunch of those sacks came versus some of Ohio State’s toughest opponents in contests when the pressure was at its peak – the College Football Playoff.

Tuimoloau notched two sacks versus Tennessee, two against Oregon, one-and-a-half versus Texas, and one in the title game versus Notre Dame. We can be fairly sure his consistent backfield terror would continue in Tennessee.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

Tennessee lawmakers discuss priorities for upcoming session

Published

9 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee lawmakers discuss priorities for upcoming session

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee lawmakers are preparing to discuss hundreds of bills as the state legislature convenes, with mental health funding emerging as a priority for two lawmakers.

State Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, and state Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knox County, said mental health care funding will be a focus of upcoming legislative conversations.

“It’s been a big topic,” McKenzie said.

“That’s going to be very top of my mind as far as working and advocating for that,” Massey said.

Massey, who chairs the Transportation Committee, said the state needs more money for road expansion. She expressed concerns about insufficient funding for billion of dollars worth of road projects.

“People are paying less to drive on our roads and the cost of building roads are going up. So your gas tax is going down, the cost of building roads is going up,” Massey said.

McKenzie stressed the need for more public education funding following the first year of families using state dollars for private school through the voucher program.

“In Knox County, our numbers are up. Actually, in Memphis, their numbers are up, so I think some of the changes we’ve made in regard to public education and putting a few more dollars in, I think we can continue that process,” McKenzie said.

State House Speaker Cameron Sexton has said he wants to at least double the voucher program to offer it to 40,000 to 50,000 families. Both Massey and McKenzie expressed skepticism about the expansion.

“This isn’t about those kids in failing schools, this is about their friends, the rich or almost rich, that are just wanting a check from the government,” McKenzie said.

Massey cited revenue concerns about the expansion.

“I’m not getting the vibes that there is going to be enough revenue to do that because we’ve got other funding needs also,” Massey said.

Massey added the state could expand the program this year, but perhaps to 5,000 more families.

The General Assembly will reconvene next Tuesday.

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Tennessee

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Deputies perform ‘life-saving measures’ after 5-year-old falls into swimming pool in Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee sheriff’s office is asking the community to pray for a family whose 5-year-old was hospitalized after falling into a swimming pool.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and family members were “administering life-saving measures” Thursday afternoon after pulling the child out of the water.

The child was then transferred to a hospital, where they are still being treated.

“The child was subsequently transported to the hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care‚” said a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be released at this time.”

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Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

Sam Purcell felt good about the game plan for Mississippi State women’s basketball’s matchup with Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs gave up 26 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points. It was a deficit they never recovered from in a 90-80 loss to the Lady Vols at Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 8.

“You look at that that first quarter, I thought it was crucial. We had a great scout, a great game plan, but we didn’t talk on ball screens,” Purcell said. “Their largest quarter was that first quarter, and we’re going to watch back and go, dang it, we need to be more vocal. And you got to give them credit – top to bottom, they’re probably as good as anybody in the country with athleticism. So you can’t let those athletic kids turn the corner for wide open layups, and we did.”

Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis led the Bulldogs with 22 points each, but MSU didn’t have enough defense to pull off the upset.

Had Mississippi State been able to slow down Tennessee’s drivers in the first quarter, it may have been a different result. But once the Bulldogs started slowing that down, the Lady Vols were “phenomenal hitting some big-time shots,” Purcell said.

Tennessee only had the edge in points in the paint, 42-40, but it also went 10-for-27 on 3-pointers, which was an area Mississippi State couldn’t match. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-13 from deep.

MSU also couldn’t stop Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who scored a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Bulldogs sent her to the foul line time and time again, and she went 8-for-9 on free throws.

“I thought (Pauldo) was poised, she was clutch,” Purcell said. “Obviously, that’s what you need in games like this that are gonna come down the to the wire. You need players to step up, and I thought she was the X factor for them.”

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