The Tennessee Titans knew they had their guy in Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Now they’re making sure he’s got a familiar face alongside him for the next chapter—exactly what an organization should do, especially after un-retiring a legend’s number.
Shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped up, the Titans agreed to terms with former Miami standout wide receiver Xavier Restrepo as a priority undrafted free agent. It's a re-U-nion.
On paper, this might seem like a simple depth signing. But make no mistake—there’s real juice here. Restrepo was Ward’s go-to target in college, putting up huge numbers and playing a massive role in one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The chemistry is beyond scientific, and the Titans are smartly banking on it carrying over to the NFL.
Tennessee didn’t neglect the wide receiver position during the draft. They added Chimere Dike from Florida and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford to a room that needed young legs behind Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett. But the Restrepo move feels different. This one feels personal. This is about helping Ward settle in fast—and giving him someone he already trusts when it matters.
Titans make biggest no-brainer move reuniting Cam Ward with Xavier Restrepo
Restrepo is way more than just a guy who caught a few passes from Ward at "The U." He’s the all-time receptions and receiving yards leader at Miami. Across 51 games, he caught 200 passes for 2,844 yards and 21 touchdowns. That includes back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and an All-American nod in 2024 while catching passes from Ward in the No. 1 ranked offense in college football.
The knock on Restrepo throughout the draft process was his straight-line speed, with a slow 40-yard dash time at his pro day causing him to slip out of the draft entirely.
But if you’ve actually watched him play, you know speed has never been his game. It’s urgency, timing, leverage—and a quarterback who knows exactly when and where he’ll be open.
We’ve seen what a college connection can do at the NFL level before. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase rewrote the rules in Cincinnati, proving that shared history—when paired with real talent—can be unstoppable. Just because Restrepo wasn’t drafted doesn’t mean he can’t make a major impact in Tennessee. The Titans didn’t just add a third receiver on Day 3. They gave their new franchise quarterback a running start.
