Dylan Raiola’s heart was set, but his dream NFL team had a different playbook. You know how every college QB fancies a certain landing spot in the pro league? For the second-year Nebraska QB, it was the one with honky-tonk bars, country music, and a whole lot of Southern swagger. But his dream team had other plans, and it didn’t include waiting around for him to become draft-eligible. So, he didn’t hide behind his feelings about this one. And what did he do? He dropped a gem of a quote that gives us a peek into his mindset. And yeah, he’s “pissed.” 

Tennessee Titans legends Will Compton and Taylor Lewan rolled through Lincoln on their Bussin’ Spring Tour, the last stop. On their latest Bussin’ With The Boys episode on May 6, Dylan Raiola sounded a little shady. Giving a big hug to Compton, who is a Huskers alum, he said, “I texted you, I was like ‘Yeah he’s probably slammed right now.’” Who are we talking about? Then he turned to Lewan and asked, “How about the Titans, man? Cam Ward… I think he’s good. I don’t know football-wise.”

Talking about the Titans drafting Cam Ward No. 1 overall, he admitted, “I was kind of pissed, I wanted to go to Tennessee. I wanted to get drafted by Tennessee or Vegas.” When Compton asked why, Raiola kept it real—“I just love Nashville. I like country music.” That’s it. 

That was the dream—bumping country hits in Music City while slinging touchdowns in the NFL. But of course, Dylan Raiola knows he isn’t draft-eligible until 2027. He only just wrapped up his freshman season last year, leading Nebraska to their first bowl game since 2016. He balled out—275 completions in 410 passes, 2,819 yards, 13 TDs, and 11 picks for an overall 7-6 record. Surely not elite, but for a true freshman, that’s not bad. And for the upcoming season, he’s not resting. 

This offseason, talk surfaced regarding Dylan Raiola’s weight. They said he’s gaining weight, which might hamper his ability on the field. Since that narrative crept up, he’s been grinding. 6 am boxing sessions in winter. Cardio-heavy spring break. Chasing Kobe Bryant’s mentality about “perfection.” “Sometimes you don’t see change right away from a physical body standpoint,” he said in late March. “Doesn’t change in a day, doesn’t change in a week, doesn’t change in two weeks, not even three. It was just the consistency of staying on it.” And his effort is paying off. 

Dylan Raiola is looking noticeably trimmer now, maybe even a good ten pounds lighter than his freshman year. HC Matt Rhule’s been hyping him up, saying, “His movement in the pocket, I think, is excellent. His ability to play the next play and move on, his checks, his knowing what he’s seeing coverage wise—we’ve added some more coverages—and he’s able to get through all the coverages.” If he keeps it up, he’ll be a big target for NFL teams when he declares for the draft. Meanwhile in Nashville…

Tennessee locks in one of the best draft classes 

If you were Tennessee, you wouldn’t pass up the chance to pick the best fit for a three-year-from-now QB like Dylan Raiola. After a brutal 3-14 season, the Titans went all-in with Cam Ward at No. 1 with a 4-year contract, and they didn’t blink. According to The Athletic’s Austin Mock, “Ward was technically a ‘reach’ by our consensus board, but the value of upside of drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 pick is tremendous.” 

The analyst also gave Tennessee’s draft an A grade for how they loaded up on elite talent with their subsequent picks. They also picked Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, Gunnar Helm, and Kevin Winston Jr. Maybe even a potential hidden gem in RB Kalel Mullings in R6. The Titans are clearly trying to cook something.

Rookie minicamp kicks off May 9-10, where fans will see what the 2025 draft landed them. For now, Dylan Raiola has to work on himself before he can think of another NFL dream team. This season’s going to be hectic, starting with Nebraska’s opener against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium.