Nature vs Nurture: a time-tested debate when it comes to QB success in the NFL. How much a rookie QB’s surroundings actually impact his success can be debated, but there is something we all agree on: it’s at least a very big part of a QB’s success out of the gate.
The Tennessee Titans have done a lot of work the past two offseasons to prepare a landing spot capable of supporting a young QB well. And with Cam Ward in the fold, I thought I’d rank the offensive players around him by their importance to him finding early success. Here we go:
10- WR Elic Ayomanor
With only so much room in the top-10 for the rookies, I’m having to call my shot here. I’ve been an Elic Ayomanor fan since the scouting process, and I think the Titans managed to draft him at a tremendous value. I saw him as a Day 2 guy because I could count on one hand the number of true “X” receiver skillsets and body types there were in this draft class, and Ayomanor was amongst them. I think he’s the only true “X” on this Titans team, and will be the starter there soon enough. What I’ve seen from him in practice so far has been really encouraging, and I think a number of the high leverage plays Cam Ward makes in the passing game this year will go through this guy.
9- TE Gunnar Helm
Gunnar Helm is my pick for the rookie (besides Cam) who will have the biggest impact in 2025. I think he’s ready-made to take over as their starting “Y” inline tight end, and he’ll be active in the passing game. He wasn’t the leading receiver for the Texas Longhorns last year by some fluke; he gets open, and is a sneaky threat with the ball in his hands after the catch.
8- TE Chig Okonkwo
I am ready to be hurt again by Chig Okonkwo. He’s still the best tight end on this team, and I think pairing him up with Cam Ward is a uniquely good fit. Cam loves dealing in traffic across the middle of the field. If you’ve paid attention to our reports coming out of Titans practice (or simply watched him at Miami), you already know this. And on his college tape, he LOVED to just rip the seam ball. Who runs the best/most of those routes on this team? Chig.
7- RB Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard had a very impressive bounce back year in 2024, and his coaches hope a more balanced workload in 2025 will allow him to stay fresh and be even more effective. He and Tyjae Spears will split the workload in the backfield, but Tony will be the lead back tasked with keeping the Titans offense on schedule. Staying on schedule and ahead of the sticks will help keep Cam playing in rhythm and on time, which is the best way to set him up for success.
6- OG Kevin Zeitler
You’re about to notice a trend: I value the offensive line a lot for Cam Ward. In fact, it’s easily the most important thing in my eyes for him to succeed this year. The number one thing the Titans can do to maximize Cam’s ability will be to protect him. So that’s why new addition Kevin Zeitler comes in at 6 on this list. He’s 35 years old but still playing very high level football, so he should be a significant upgrade at RG.
5- OG Peter Skoronski
I’m putting Peter Skoronski one spot ahead of Zeitler because I think he has the taller task in helping hold down the left side of the line with Dan Moore. He’ll be leaned on to help make Moore as effective as he can be at LT, and based on the way he finished 2025, he should be one of the best guards in the entire league. Folks don’t realize it because the team was fully dismissed by this point, but down the back half of the 2024 season, Skoronski was arguably the best pass protecting guard in the NFL. Let’s see if he can pick up where he left off.
4- C Lloyd Cushenberry
Everyone always makes such a big deal out of the center-quarterback relationship. And they do that because, well, it really is a big deal. A duo that is on the same page is paramount to an offense working at its peak capacity. The center is who helps identify what the defense is showing and set the correct protections. He quite literally deals with the assignments that either protect or ruin the QB. Cushenberry returning to his full form off this Achilles tear is a such a big deal for Ward.
3- WR Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley is being paid very highly this year, and the expectations on his shoulders match that compensation. He’s the only truly known and reliable quantity in this receiver room. He needs to pick up how he finished 2024 and take it up yet another gear with Cam Ward. Based on what we’ve seen in practice so far, those two are well on their way to being an electrifying tandem in the fall.
2- OT Dan Moore
Nothing is more important to me this year than the tackle play protecting Cam Ward. Absolutely nothing. This is the first opportunity the Titans have had to have two (count them, two!) serviceable tackles on the team at the same time in many years. Dan Moore is the biggest question mark on this OL, and him playing up to his potential as a perfectly good NFL tackle is a massive key to Cam Ward’s success this year.
1- OT JC Latham
I think JC Latham is Cam Ward’s most important teammate in 2025. His coaches called him their best offensive lineman so far during mandatory minicamp, and that’s great news; because he needs to be. Taking a year two leap as he transitions back to the side he played in college would be a big deal for the Titans offense to function maximally. I’m expecting him to lead the charge of this Titans OL into a new, potentially dominant era.
