The Tennessee Titans are opening the 2025 season with hope that they’ve finally found their quarterback of the future.
After finishing last season with the league’s worst record, the Titans earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They used that pick on Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward.
Ward is now preparing to make his first career NFL start against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. While there’s optimism that this year will be better than last season’s 3-14 finish, it’s just as possible Tennessee could be looking at another top-five pick in next year’s draft.
That’s what The Sporting News’ Anthony Licciardi predicts, projecting the Titans to select No. 4 overall — a pick that would reunite Ward with his former Miami teammate, edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
“Bain came into the year having to answer questions about last year’s injury. He answered them against an elite Notre Dame offense,” Licciardi wrote. “He was arguably the best player on the field and one of the strongest performers from the first full week of collegiate action.
“The athletic traits returned in full force, his power made its presence felt and he came through in the game’s biggest moment. Tennessee took an edge rusher in my last mock, and Bain made a good argument to be the position’s top prospect on Saturday.”
Miami’s revamped defense came alive in their 27-24 win over Notre Dame last weekend, with Bain a major factor. He finished with six total tackles and 0.5 sacks, but his impact went beyond the stat sheet as he consistently disrupted the Fighting Irish offense.
Bain would be a natural replacement for Harold Landry, who the Titans released this offseason for cap reasons. The move cleared $10.9 million in cap space.
Ward and Bain only played one season together at Miami, but both were standout contributors on their respective sides of the ball. Titans fans aren’t hoping for another season that lands them inside the top five, but if it does, selecting a player like Bain — who has already shown he can be a game-changer — might ease the frustration.