If there was one thing that became apparent during training camp and the preseason for the Tennessee Titans, it was that the youth movement is completely underway in Nashville.

Yes, the team did add some key veteran pieces to the mix, but Tennessee will rely on many young players heading into the 2025 season, with others poised to take on bigger roles as the season progresses. 

Of those young players, a couple of rookies are receiving some national attention heading into the season. In a recent piece, draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid of ESPN break down the rookie class and name the top candidates for the Rookie of the Year (ROY) and some sleepers who are flying under the radar. 

To start, Reid takes on the Rookie of the Year candidates and sees Cam Ward near the top of the heap. 

2. Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans 

Ward has an exciting playing style that includes a quick release and great accuracy to all three levels of the field. For a Titans team that has been searching for a franchise QB, he brings plenty of promise. In his final collegiate season, Ward helped lead Miami to its first 10-win season since 2017, throwing for 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. He is the clear starter for the Titans, with Will Levis out for the season with a shoulder injury. That means Ward should be able to roll through ups and downs on his way to OROY-level numbers.

While Ward’s preseason was nothing spectacular, he did demonstrate everything that Reid pointed out with his release, multiple arm angles, and accuracy. He also displayed a keen understanding of the offense and showed the ability to lead the team in limited snaps regardless of who was on the field. 

Reid followed that breakdown with a few notes on Ward that he had picked up from the preseason and how it could impact his performance in 2025. 

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

With the Titans already installing concepts that are similar to what Ward executed at Miami, he is expected to bring his electrifying playing style to coach Brian Callahan’s offense right off the bat. There isn’t a throw on the field that Ward feels like he can’t make, using a shortstop-like throwing motion to execute them. Because of his high confidence, he will need to learn how to straddle the line of smart decision-making and risky, highlight-reel throws.

Miller then broke down some under-the-radar rookies that could surprise in 2025. While many who follow the Titans may have expected Elic Ayomanor to be on the list, it is a different fourth-round weapon that he sees being a surprise in 2025. 

5. Gunnar Helm, TE, Tennessee Titans

Every time I check in with coaches and scouts from the Titans, they rave about Helm’s toughness and hands. The fourth-round pick scored on a beautiful catch between two defenders in the Week 2 preseason game. As a seam-busting tight end, he might not bring a ton of juice post-catch, but Helm will make the tough grabs consistently and has been productive in the red zone. Don’t be surprised if he’s the Titans’ starting tight end this season.

Helm has been one of the highlights of the preseason and appears ready to take on an important role within the Titans’ offense. He may not possess the measurables or explosive big-play ability of starter Chig Okonkwo, but Helm has the potential to be a consistent chain-moving safety net and red zone threat, traits that could be valuable assets for both the coaching staff and Ward. 

With the start of the regular season one week away, no one really knows what will happen. But in Tennessee, there is hope that their youth movement, spearheaded by players like Ward and Helm, will lead them out of the basement and into contention. Â