Mock drafts do not stop once the selection show is over for that particular year. Sports media websites must fill up the next 30 days with content to keep their subscribers engaged during the offseason. One primary method of accomplishing those aspirations is by the continuation of mock drafts. Pro Football Network’s James Fragoza has projected that the Tennessee Titans will select the top prospect at the wide receiver position in Missouri’s Luther Burden III.
“2) Tennessee Titans: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Titans have a diabolical receiving corps in 2023 … at least on paper.
A few years ago, having DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd on the same team would’ve been cause for intervention from Roger Goodell a la David Stern. However, in 2024, the trio of 29-years-or-older pass catchers has a limited window of elite productivity.
As a result, the Titans nab the top offensive prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft: Luther Burden III. The Missouri WR can win before the catch, at the catch point, and after the catch.
A true three-level threat, Burden can be Will Levis’ WR1 for the next decade.”
Fragoza’s reasoning behind the Titans’ selection of Burden revolves around the team’s aging receiving corps. With DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd all in their late twenties, the Titans face the reality of a limited window of elite productivity from their veteran pass catchers. By drafting Burden, a highly touted prospect with the ability to excel at every level of the field, the Titans aim to secure a long-term solution at the wide receiver position and provide young quarterback Will Levis with a dynamic weapon for years to come.
However, while Burden may offer undeniable talent and potential, the Titans’ decision to pass on selecting a quarterback with the second-overall pick raises questions about their confidence in Levis as the franchise’s long-term solution under center. Given the opportunity to draft top quarterback prospects like Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck, or Jalen Milroe, the Titans’ choice to prioritize wide receiver suggests a continued commitment to Levis as their starter.
This decision prompts speculation about the Titans’ evaluation of Levis’s performance and development. Despite making significant offseason moves to bolster the roster around him, including adding talent on both offense and defense, the Titans’ disappointing season indicates that Levis may not have met expectations in his sophomore year as the team’s starting quarterback.
Furthermore, passing on the opportunity to select a potential franchise quarterback at pick number two implies a willingness to double down on Levis and give him another chance to prove himself. While this approach may reflect the organization’s desire to provide stability and continuity at the quarterback position, it also highlights the risk of remaining stagnant and failing to address potential areas of weakness within the team.
In the end, the Titans’ selection of Luther Burden III with the second-overall pick raises intriguing questions about the team’s future direction and their confidence in Will Levis as their quarterback moving forward. Only time will tell whether this decision proves to be a wise investment in the team’s long-term success or a missed opportunity to address a crucial position of need. As the offseason unfolds and the draft approaches, Titans fans will eagerly await further developments and hope for clarity on the team’s quarterback situation.
