The Tennessee Titans have been caught in a downward spiral over the past few seasons, culminating in them earning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
One major reason is the Titans' lack of success in the first round of the draft. In a recent article, Pro Football Focus (PFF) broke down the best and worst teams at drafting in the first round since 2020, using a matrix based on a combination of their grades and Wins Above Replacement (WAR) to examine how teams fared with their selections. To no one's surprise, the Titans finished near the bottom of that list.
Least PFF WAR Accrued by First-Round Picks Since 2020
Rank Team WAR - Picks
1 Las Vegas Raiders - 0.07 - Henry Ruggs, Damon Arnette, Alex Leatherwood, Tyree Wilson, Brock Bowers
2 Tennessee Titans - 0.25 - Isaiah Wilson, Caleb Farley, Treylon Burks, Peter Skoronski, JC Latham
3 Los Angeles Rams - 0.42 - Jared Verse
4 New Orleans Saints - 0.61 - Cesar Ruiz, Payton Turner, Chris Olave, Trevor Penning, Bryan Bresee, Taliese Fuaga
5 Indianapolis Colts - 0.72 - Kwity Paye, Anthony Richardson, Laiatu Latu
Over the past five years, the Titans have undergone multiple transitions. They are on their third general manager during that span and have had two head coaches. However, looking at the players they have taken over that period, it is easy to see how this decline has occurred.
Whether due to lack of evaluation or injuries, Isaiah Wilson, Caleb Farley, and Treylon Burks' selections have played a major role in setting the franchise back. Wilson was a complete bust, and injuries and ineffectiveness hampered Farley and Burks throughout their time in Nashville. While Burks remains on the roster, he is returning from a serious knee injury and might not be ready until the start of the regular season.
Tennessee appears to have turned the corner a bit with Peter Skoronski (2023) and JC Latham (2024). Both offensive linemen have flashed potential since arriving in Nashville and are poised to take another step forward in 2025.
The 2025 NFL draft starts in less than three weeks, and new general manager Mike Borgonzi will be steering the ship for the first time. Titans fans hope he will be more successful than his predecessors.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: PFF ranks the Titans as one of the worst first-round drafting teams
