As the Tennessee Titans have continued to unravel their free agency moves, many around the league have begun to put the pieces together to outline the team’s plans for their highly-anticipated number-one pick.

As the Titans have remained diligent in preparing their offensive line with two new starters in Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler, while also not making any major moves to their quarterback room, it’s begun to lead to the belief that Tennessee will inevitably target a signal caller with their top selection on the board come late April.

Yet, a few faces around the league still don’t see the Titans’ plans to be completely finalized at number-one.

According to ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, despite considerable chatter around the Titans and potential plans to draft a quarterback atop the board, he still sees a world where Tennessee goes in another direction.

“After Tennesse designed free agent Dan Moore Jr. to play left tackle, folks on social media proclaimed the Titans were drafting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick,” Miller wrote. “Signing Moore shouldn’t be the move that cements that. In fact, it’s still unclear how Tennessee is leaning at No. 1… There is the option of Levis returning as the starter with an improved offensive line. Drafting a quarterback isn’t a lock, even if it remains a big need.”

The hype around Ward has seemingly only grown since the season’s wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean Tennessee is locked in at upgrading their quarterback room at one.

Other appealing blue-chip prospects will also be up for grabs, and with two names like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter also filling positions of need, in the eyes of Miller, that could further add to the appeal of the chances Tennessee goes with a non-quarterback.

“We can’t forget that the Titans also released Harold Landry III, their top pass rusher from last season, and haven’t yet replaced him,” Miller continued. “All options are on the table for Tennessee. The team’s clear-cut needs at quarterback, wide receiver, defensive end and cornerback would make drafting Ward, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter viable possibilities. And that’s not factoring a potential trade, if the Titans find a team willing to make a strong deal. There wasn’t one clear move that tipped what Tennessee will do.”

Tons of time still remains between now and decision-making time for the Titans, and a few remaining components of the pre-draft process still remain with events like interviews, workouts, and pro day performances for the top guys on the board.

Ward may be the early favorite, but if another top guy does enough to boost his stock with the Titans brass, or another team offers a package that can’t be passed on, don’t be shocked to see the front office opt to go with another option as opposed to the Miami product.

The 2025 NFL Draft will officially kick off on Thursday, April, 24th in Green Bay, WI.

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

As Nashville grows and changes at a breakneck pace, a parcel of land just an hour outside the city is growing increasingly wild — and has been for the past 30 years.

The Elephant Sanctuary, in Hohenwald, celebrated its 30^th anniversary on March 3, marking three decades of adopting former circus and show elephants and allowing them to retire in peaceful wilderness.

Started in 1995 with just one rescued elephant named Tarra who roamed 110 acres of land, the sanctuary has grown into the nation’s largest natural habitat refuge for elephants at 3,060 acres, including an educational center for the public. Wide open fields and native foliage provide a backdrop for 12 retired African and Asian elephants to live out their golden years under the loving care of their handlers.

Janice Zeitlin, CEO of the sanctuary since 2013, expressed excitement for the future of the sanctuary and said reaching the anniversary is “overwhelming.”

“We’re sharing this world with some really beautiful and wonderful creatures,” she said. “And we need to take care of them. We need to be respectful and keep them safe.”

The habitat has seen its fair share of heartwarming stories — from a documentary-inspiring friendship between two elephants as well as the refuge serving as partial inspiration for the book “Leaving Time” by best-selling author Jodi Picoult — and hardships, like the decade-long legal fight over ownership of the sanctuary’s first elephant and the accidental death of an elephant trainer in 2006.

The gentle giants that call the sanctuary home — of which there have been 34 in total — come from a wide range of circumstances. One from the Louisville Zoo, a number from a private owner in Chicago, two from the Knoxville Zoo and even one from the cast of the 1988 “Big Top Pee-wee” movie.

“In many of these situations, the zoos and owners are making decisions because their elephants are getting older, and they really want them to have socialization opportunities that they might not have gotten previously,” Zeitlin said. “Elephants really need social opportunities. They’re very social creatures.”

One favorite resident of the facility, Shirley, born in 1948 in Sumatra, made a tremendous impact on her handlers. The Asian elephant, a former circus performer, survived an insane sequence of events, including being kidnapped by forces belonging to Cuba’s Prime Minister Fidel Castro, a shipwreck off of Nova Scotia, a truck wreck, being attacked by another elephant and living for 20 years as the only elephant at a small zoo in Louisiana, before retiring to the sanctuary.

She died in 2021 at 72 years old, making her the second-oldest elephant in North America.

Shirley’s story: North America’s second oldest elephant dies at 72 in Tennessee sanctuary

“Shirley was just really special,” Zeitlin said with emotion. “She was so intelligent and entirely her own animal. Shirley kind of epitomized what this sanctuary is all about: giving a home to and helping these big animals have a safe place where they’re taken care of through their lifetime, through all those phases of life.”

Looking to the future, Zeitlin said the refuge is excited to be developing its international partnerships and advocating for elephants everywhere.

“We give out grants once a year for protecting elephants and trying to create better welfare for them, both in human care and in the wild. … We have a group in Vietnam that helps elephants retire from giving rides to tourists, and another group that’s tracking elephants through India and trying to keep pathways open from human conflict,” she said. “We just want to create a better world for elephants wherever they are.”

NASHVILLE, Tn. — Auburn’s Johni Broome was giving Tennessee fits. The Vols’ were playing strong defense and cutting off the tap for every Tiger besides the SEC Player of the Year.

That’s when Tennessee made a significant coaching move, sending a double team at Johni Broome while getting critical stops late in a 70-65 win.

“It worked out,” Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey said. “It ended up working out for us and forced them to shoot some jumpers. It was an adjustment that we made that worked.”

With just under four minutes left in the game, Broome had scored 23 points on nine-of-11 shooting from the field. Tennessee was playing good defense but Broome was delivering big buckets when Auburn was pulling away from the Vols.

After a few mistakes early in the game, Felix Okpara was doing a good job defending Broome but the SEC Player of the Year was still scoring.

“He had a lot of points at that time,” senior guard Jordan Gainey said. “We were making sure someone else scored and not him

“We wanted to be there on the catch that he couldn’t just pick you apart with the pass as you’re coming,” Justin Gainey said. “I thought we did a good job of that but it is tough. He had it going. He was in a flow. It felt like the other guys hadn’t really had touches and weren’t in rhythm so they’re going to be taking shots out of rhythm.”

Double teaming Broome is a risky proposition with how good of a passer the big man is. But with Auburn’s guards struggling, Tennessee was going to force anyone other than Broome beat them.

More From RTI: Johni Broome Compliments Tennessee After Being Eliminated by the Volunteers

Tennessee first doubled Broome with 3:12 left and Auburn ended up getting to the free throw line and making one of two attempts. Doubling Broome on the catch was a focal point for Tennessee because of his ability to “pick you apart” if he watches the double team coming.

The next possession, the Vols were a bit late and had just showed a double team when Broome whipped a pass to the corner and Miles Kelly missed a three-pointer.

On the next possession, Cade Phillips was there to double team Broome on the catch and the 6-foot-10 big mean threw a high pass to Kelly in the corner. That high pass slowed things down just enough. When Kelly swung the ball to Denver Jones, Phillips was there to contest and Jones’ shot missed.

“He’s a really good passer but we kind of kept his vision away,” senior guard Jahmai Mashack said. “Made it tough for him so I think being able to get to shooters when he passed it out, I think it was great executing on our part.”

“Getting into those scramble drills and getting out and running around is nothing new to us,” Phillips said. “We love that. We love the chaos of it. So getting the ball out of his hands where they’re swinging the ball around trying to find an advantage, we’ve got guys everywhere that can move and love to defend.”

On three possessions where Tennessee double teamed or showed a double team on Broome, the Tigers scored just one-point. Broome did not score in the final four minutes after Tennessee adjusted its defensive strategy.

With key stops down the stretch and a couple of big buckets, Tennessee held on to defeat Auburn and advance to the SEC Tournament Championship.