First & Tenn

It is a week before the start of training camp, and CBS Sports ranked Brian Callahan as the worst coach in the NFL. Truth be told, based on his one season on the job, it is tough to argue in favor of a higher rating. ... Second-round pick Femi Oladejo remains unsigned and might miss the start of training camp. Of course, the same is true for virtually all of the league's second-round picks -- and there is a simple explanation. ... Quarterback Cam Ward almost certainly won't have to wait to be a starter. So, what will constitute a good start to the career of this year's first overall pick? ... Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed was little more than a rumor last year. His recent comments suggest that this year he plans to offer a reminder of the type of player he can be.

Cam Ward is the latest quarterback the Tennessee Titans have selected early in the draft, following the likes of Vince Young, Jake Locker and Marcus Mariota. The others had their moments, but none measured up to the standard established by Steve McNair, the only quarterback to take the franchise to the Super Bowl. Ward has yet to throw a pass in the preseason (never mind the regular season), but there are some similarities in his story and his approach that compare favorably with McNair. Also, ESPN's preseason statistical projections for Ward and other key players have been published. We weigh in on whether those projections are optimistic or pessimistic.

As training camp approaches, there is not a lot of respect for the Tennessee Titans' roster. Pro Football Focus recently released its rankings of the top 32 players at each position group, and more than half of those groups did not include any of the Titans. Also in recent days, a bookmaker said the overwhelming odds are that Tennessee will fail to make the playoffs this season. The fact is that there are not a lot position groups where it is tough to figure who will make the roster. Likewise, there are not many well-established veterans who look like they could be pushed out before the start of the regular season.

Coach Brian Callahan opted for a maximum minicamp in his second season with the Tennessee Titans. Many NFL teams cut the final day from the mandatory three-day session that concludes formal offseason work as a reward for the players' work over the preceding weeks (the Detroit Lions canceled their entire minicamp), but Callahan and his staff put the players through three full days of workouts before they cut them loose ahead of training camp. ... Minicamp afforded the media three straight days to watch rookie quarterback Cam Ward. There was some good. There was some bad. And there was some banter -- particularly with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. ... All of this and more, on this episode of First and Tenn.

In the final week of organized team activities, veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley shared his first impressions of rookie quarterback Cam Ward. In short, it was a glowing review with Ridley praising Ward's preparation, his competitiveness and his give-and-take approach to working with pass catchers. .... The one day of media access this week included an opportunity to see Ward work in third-down situations. The results were mixed. ... Changes to the coaching staff -- and some new job titles -- suggest that Brian Callahan took a critical look the operation last year and decided things needed to be different. But will those changes make a difference?

Will Levis almost certainly has lost his job, but the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback for most of the past two seasons has not lost his candor. Out of the spotlight since Cam Ward was taken with the first overall pick in this year's draft, Levis finally spoke to the media during this week's organized team activities (OTAs). In short, he said his current situation "sucks," but that he has not asked for a trade and plans to work as hard as he can in what was largely an upbeat media session. ... Speaking of Ward, the media got to see him throw some 7-on-7. It was not a jaw-dropping session, but it also did not raise any red flags. Perhaps most telling was a comment from defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. ... Every year offers a reminder that OTAs are voluntary, but player absences still often create an overreaction, particularly when a prominent player is a no-show, as was the case this week. ... Finally, Chig Okonkwo gets no respect in a recent Pro Football Focus ranking of NFL tight ends.

The 2025 NFL schedule has been released. The Tennessee Titans will open on the road (Denver) and finish on the road (Jacksonville). In between, however, they will be at home for all of November, when they play four games at Nissan Stadium in five weeks. Their open date comes after the first of those contests. That is good news given that -- historically speaking -- the Titans have been better at home in November than they have in other months. ... While everyone now knows what to look forward to, the recently completed rookie orientation, featuring quarterback Cam Ward, was not much to see. The youngsters focused exclusively on individual drills and evaluation rather than scheme assimilation and team drills. .... Finally, a former Titans star has cashed in big with another team.

The Tennessee Titans made nine picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is one more than they had going into it. The first was quarterback Cam Ward. Five of the next eight were on offense, including three potential pass catchers in the fourth round. All of that followed the free agent addition of veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett on the eve of the draft. The passing game is going to have a dramatically different cast of characters in 2025, and that includes -- even if no one is willing to say it yet -- the guy throwing the passes. The only mystery now is whether Will Levis is traded or kept around as a backup.

With a week to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans made a number of roster moves. The most notable transactions were the release of one veteran offensive linemen and the corresponding additions of three others. An analytics exercise by The Athletic has determined that the Titans have the NFL's worst roster going into the draft. Speaking of the draft (and The Athletic), we look at what that publication's seven-round mock draft says about what the Titans might be thinking, And then, quarterback Cam Ward answered questions from fans during an online gaming chat, and his answers suggested he knows exactly what team will select him in the draft.

As the Tennessee Titans continue their preparations for the 2025 NFL Draft, the focus is on individual visits, which happened at the combine and continue to happen at pro days, in person and via video. Based on reported videos, the Titans seem to have a particular interest in wide receivers -- and understandably so. While this year's group at that position is not flush with first-round picks, as has been common in recent years, there are plenty who have traits the Titans would be happy to add to their offense.