The 2025 NFL draft is just a few months away and the Tennessee Titans are doing their homework on prospects worthy of being selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
Most mock drafts coming out have the Titans selecting quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami, but NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah is going a different route.
1. Tennessee Titans – Abdul Carter
Penn State · Edge · Junior
My ears perked up when Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said the team wouldn’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick. To me, Carter is the best player in the draft and he plays a premium position. I could see Tennessee looking to add competition for QB Will Levis in the free-agent market or later on in the draft.
Chad Brinker did say they would not pass on a generational talent, but we don’t actually know what Brinker thinks about Carter.
While at Penn State, Carter made an immediate impact out of high school as a four-star recruit. He recorded 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks his freshman season, joining Deion Barnes as the only other Penn State freshman to record 10-plus tackles for a loss and 6-plus sacks. This earned him Freshman All-American and All-Big Ten honors.
Carter’s sophomore and junior years were equally as impressive, his senior season he set a new record with 24 tackles for a loss, surpassing players like Myles Garrett and Nick and Joey Bosa.
His talent is undeniable, but there are two caveats: 1. It’s unclear how the Titans’ brass feels about passing on a quarterback with the top pick, and 2. Carter was arrested for assault in 2024 after pulling a tow truck driver from his vehicle. Carter didn’t have a permit. It appears to be a one-off confrontation, but the Titans will need to make sure his legal issues don’t carry over should they draft him.
The 2025 NFL draft takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin at the end of April. The Titans are sure to be busy between now and then with evaluating players and evaluating options and offers from other teams.