Tennessee Titans land premium edge defender in ESPN’s 2025 NFL mock draft

ESPN panders to Tennessee Volunteers fans with their pick for the Tennessee Titans in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft

Matt Miller, ESPN’s acclaimed NFL draft analyst, dropped his first 2025 mock draft this morning. Miller has the Titans selecting Tennessee Volunteers defensive end James Pearce Jr. with the No. 4 overall selection.

The draft order was determined by ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). It’s an in-house developed formula that uses thousands of simulations to predict the 2024 NFL season. Mainstream media publications continue to be extremely low on the Titans heading into the season.

“This is a prove-it season for quarterback Will Levis as a second-year starter, but the early returns were good enough that we can forget about quarterbacks at the top of the draft for now,” Miller wrote. “Instead, the Titans could land my preseason No. 1 overall player — and an in-state prospect. At 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, Pearce has special quickness around the edge, picking up 9.5 sacks last season. He also flashed his all-around game with a 52-yard pick-six last season. Pearce would be an instant boost opposite Harold Landry III.”

The Titans have fairly sizable questions at the EDGE position heading into the 2024 season. Harold Landry and Arden Key are penciled in as the starters. Key is being projected into a larger role after being more of a rotational rusher last campaign.

Behind them are a bunch of unproven players. Rashad Weaver appears to be the go-to option off the bench. Second-year undrafted free agents Caleb Murphy and Thomas Rush are attempting to make the roster. Seventh-round rookie Jaylen Harrell, and UDFA Khalid Duke are also on the team.

Pearce was outstanding for the Volunteers in 2023. The Charlotte, North Carolina native totaled 10.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss while displaying a prototypical pass-rushing skill set. Pearce would look great opposite Landry in two-tone blue.