The Tennessee Titans weren’t going to leave anything to chance when it came to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. Before the madness of undrafted free agency even began, they made sure to reunite him with his college quarterback — first-round pick Cam Ward.
Ward, their unquestioned top target in the 2025 NFL Draft, never had the Titans considering a trade or pivoting to a different position. And that confidence may have played a big role in the decision to give Restrepo a shot as an undrafted rookie free agent.
That was the easy part. But earning a spot on the final 53-man roster for the 2025 season won’t come easy.
Can Xavier Restrepo Make the Titans’ 53-Man Roster?
Ward’s influence on bringing in his former Miami teammate is obvious — and it could give Restrepo a real edge. The Titans clearly see potential in rebuilding a dynamic WR-QB tandem from Coral Gables. But chemistry alone won’t lock him in for a roster spot.
Restrepo’s college production speaks for itself. He leaves Miami as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (200), receiving yards (2,844), and receiving touchdowns (21). He also racked up the most 100-yard games in Hurricanes history, earned consensus NCAA All-America first-team honors, and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Talent isn’t the issue.
The real hurdle? His speed — or lack of it. Restrepo’s draft stock took a massive hit after he clocked a sluggish 4.87-second 40-yard dash at Miami’s Pro Day. Combine that with a smaller 5-foot-10, 198-pound frame, and NFL teams simply passed.
The Titans didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet either. They spent fourth-round picks on Chimere Dike (Florida) and Elic Ayomanor (Stanford), adding more competition to a crowded receiver room.
It will be an up-hill climb for everyone to eat away meaningful snaps from probable starters Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and Treylon Burks — with veteran Van Jefferson lurking on the depth chart as someone who could push for a starting job.
Still, Restrepo has one major advantage: familiarity. The wide receiver posted a confident three-word message on social media after the Titans shared a video of the team calling him to let him know he’d be joining his college quarterback in Tennessee.
Restrepo wrote: “God. Never. Fails.”
His chemistry with Ward could be the X-factor that others can’t replicate. Given his historic production and a little help from his quarterback, Restrepo might just sneak onto the Titans’ 53-man roster — and if he does, don’t be surprised if he turns into a reliable weapon when it counts.