The Tennessee Titans are on the clock. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is theirs to wield. After months of speculation, a shortlist has emerged. But the biggest shock? Travis Hunter, CFB’s double-edged sword, didn’t make the cut. The Colorado’s two-way phenom had every intention of rewriting NFL history. “That was one of my dreams,” he said. “Go No. 1 and be the best I can be.” 

Titans HC Brian Callahan showered the player with praise, calling him a “unique player” with few comparisons in football history. “There’s not many guys that have played that many snaps on both sides of the b—,” he said. “He’s got a really unique ability to do a lot of different things.” But ability alone wasn’t enough to crack Tennessee’s final list. 

NFL insider Jordan Schultz dropped a bombshell post on his Instagram story on March 2 on the Titans’ pursuits with their first pick. The first story surrounded the projected top two QBs of this year’s draft class — Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.

Citing NFL on FOX as the primary source, he wrote, “The Titans will host Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Miami QB Cam Ward this week in their facility.” The next story put the spotlight on Penn State’s pass rusher, Abdul Carter, who is also scheduled for a visit this week, along with the QBs. 

All in all, the NFL draft day promises to create excitement amongst the fans.

All three candidates declined to participate in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine, opting to wait for their Pro Days. Carter, recovering from a stress reaction on his foot, assured reporters he was 90% healthy and expected to be at full strength by March. But the debate for the Titans is a tough one. Should they lock in their franchise QB or anchor their defense with a game-changing pass rusher? 

Shedeur Sanders has been the face of Colorado’s resurgence. He threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 picks last season. And his confidence is unwavering. “If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me.” Cam Ward is a worthy rival. He took his talent to Miami for a Heisman finalist campaign with 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.

He’s betting on his tape to do the talking — “The tape says everything, I believe, and I’m honest to that.” But wait, Abdul Carter could be the dark horse. His stats speak for themselves: 43 total tackles, 12 sacks, two FFs, 66 pressures, and a ridiculous 22.6% pass rush win rate.

His confidence follows — “I feel like I’m the best player in the country, and the best player should be picked first.” But what about Travis Hunter?

Why was Travis Hunter snubbed?

Can a scenario arise where the Titans trade back and pick Travis Hunter later? Possible. But at No. 1? It’s a tough sell. The unicorn has made his stance clear in how he intends to play both ways in the NFL. And he’s optimistic about it. “Nobody has done it (playing both ways full-time in the NFL),” he stated. “I know I can do it. I did it at the college level, which the game is, we barely get breaks, and there’s a lot more breaks in the NFL.”

But it just doesn’t align with Callahan’s needs. 

Tennessee doesn’t have an immediate need at CB, and while the Buffs star is a dynamic receiver, he’s not in the same tier as a Ja’Marr Chase or Marvin Harrison Jr. The upside is obvious, but the positional value just doesn’t justify the pick. That hasn’t stopped other teams from dreaming, though. “Travis Hunter could be the best cornerback on the Giants and also be WR2 behind Malik Nabers,” NFL analyst Sam Monson stated. 

For now, the Titans’ focus is locked in. Three players, one decision with the franchise’s future hanging in the balance. The clock continues to tick.