FEBRUARY 14: The Titans are still trending towards trading the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft.
Of a panel of eight executives, coaches, and scouts, five believe that Tennessee will trade down to add more draft capital, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, while three believe that they will stay at No. 1 and, most likely, pick a quarterback.
Their decision represents competing beliefs about how to utilize the top pick in the draft while rebuilding a franchise. Multiple members of the panel pointed out that the Titans’ roster needs go far beyond a quarterback. Trading back would allow them to build a better long-term situation for a future franchise signal-caller.
However, the first overall pick is a rare opportunity, and six of the last seven have been used on a quarterback.
“You have to make it count and get your quarterback,” said one assistant coach. “I think that’s what the Titans will do. Keep the top pick and draft Cam Ward.”
FEBRUARY 9: New Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi already indicated during his introductory press conference several weeks ago that his club is open to the possibility of trading the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. Multiple sources tell ESPN’s Dan Graziano they believe Tennessee will do just that (subscription required).
The logic to a trade-down maneuver is clear. The Titans have plenty of holes to fill on their roster, and unless they become convinced one of the top signal-caller prospects in this year’s draft class (Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward) is their surefire QB of the future, moving down to collect additional draft capital makes plenty of sense.
Of course, Borgonzi & Co. are doing their due diligence on Sanders and Ward, and president of football operations Chad Brinker – who has final say over personnel matters, although Borgonzi will run the draft – indicated the team will not pass on a generational talent with the No. 1 pick. In other words, even if the Titans do not think highly enough of Sanders or Ward to make one of them the top overall pick in April, a non-QB blue-chipper like Travis Hunter could still convince Tennessee to retain its coveted position atop the draft board.
If the Titans do not select a QB with their first choice, regardless of where that selection might fall, Graziano notes that a free agent passer like Sam Darnold or Justin Fields could be in play. Or, Tennessee could simply elect to give 2023 second-rounder Will Levis one more shot to prove that he can be the solution under center.
The Browns (No. 2 overall), Giants (No. 3), Raiders (No. 6), and Jets (No. 7) all profile as potential trading partners for the Titans. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who confirms that Tennessee brass is keeping an open mind here, adds the Saints (No. 9) to the list of teams that could engage in trade talks.
Cleveland would not have to move too far up the board to assure itself of its top choice of quarterback prospects, and as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (video link) reiterates, the Browns are expected to draft a passer and would have done so even if Deshaun Watson had not suffered a second Achilles tear that puts his 2025 season in jeopardy. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (subscription required), Browns GM Andrew Berry believes a long-term starter can be found in this year’s much-maligned crop of collegiate QBs, even beyond the Sanders/Ward tier (although Berry naturally would not suggest otherwise at this point).
Pelissero adds that, no matter when Berry plans to pull the trigger on a college quarterback, Cleveland is also expected to add a veteran at the position. He names Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones as players to watch in that scenario.
In the same video link cited above, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says the Giants – whose only QB under contract at the moment is Tommy DeVito – will likewise be active in the veteran signal-caller market in advance of the draft. Garafolo confirms Darnold will be an option for Big Blue, and the team could again be on Russell Wilson’s radar (a sentiment echoed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (see Graziano link above)).
Giants owner John Mara said last month he is open to resolving his club’s QB concerns with a veteran and/or a draft pick, though he appeared to suggest a prospect was the preferred route. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post believes Mara’s team will try to move up to either the No. 1 or No. 2 slot to select a quarterback, and Dan Duggan of The Athletic thinks there is a good chance the Titans and Giants will strike a No. 1-for-No. 3 swap.
If they can trade down and stay in the top five, that would be amazing. Stay in range for one of Carter, Hunter, or McMillan and load up on draft capital for when there are likely better quarterbacks next year.
I don’t think they’ll be loading up on draft capital. I’d love to add Carter, but we’ll still wind up with a player at #6.
If they trade down, they’ll presumably add a lot of draft capital.
Depends on how far down. Top pick in this draft is not as valuable as it has been in years past.
I’m with Jeffer, unless a team falls in love with Ward or Sanders, then may not be the kind of haul we’re used to seeing for a #1 overall pick
They can always get their QB next year.
Swap with the Giants or Raiders and tank for a QB next year
Giants should be the tanking team for the next Manning.
Thanks to Amy “I know nothing about the game” Adams, they will overpay for Darnold – still with a lame O-line- because she’s desperate to field a winner for when their ridiculously expensive and unnecessary new stadium is completed.
The Saints are offering their 2025 and 2026 1st and 2025 3rd plus their 2025 and 2026 Salary Cap deficits.
I wouldn’t trade back more than 2 spots. Abdul carter seems like the prize of this draft and he isn’t lasting past 3.
49ers should trade up and snag THunter. They need a replacement for CMC, and a duo while he’s still there.
But they need OL more so this is really just wishful thinking.
Isn’t Hunter a CB/WR? How would he replace CMC?
The Titans are more than one player away from being contenders so naturally they wouldn’t be opposed to trading back. The question is who really wants to pony up considerable draft capital for the first overall pick when the QB prospects look so bland?
We’ll see what happens after the combine.
A lot can change at different position groups, including QBs that end up in the top 5 after advanced evals
I consider the combine as just another NFL money grab. I think it’s useless as an evaluation tool but GMs do get to meet and discuss possible deals about other players on their roster.
40 times make or break a lot of prospects
And I’m not sure the metric for QBs, but we’ve seen the Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz or Mitch Trubisky (awful results I know) skyrocket up the boards.
So leave room for someone like Will Howard to turn out a 1st round grade come April
The Cleveland Browns would absolutely trade up and draft the next QB bust at number one, because that’s what the Browns do.
Seduce Sam Darnold or Rodgers and trade back. Titans are lacking in so many categories it’s not even funny. WRs, EDGE, DBs, and O Line
Titans should trade for Jake Browning.. Taylor had him look serviceable in Cincy
Can’t remember a draft with a less enviable class to have the #1 pick
2013 comes to mind, but that’s about it. At least Carter and Hunter are elite prospects, and I think people are underrating McMillan and Graham, but definitely an uninspiring QB group.
Only a foolish team will trade up for this year’s crop of QBs. The same handful of teams at the top of this draft will also be the top of next year’s draft with a shot at Arch Manning.
Too bad the Giants won’t consider trading down. They need plenty of help and could draft a qb on day 2. I’m not sold on Ward or Sanders.
How do you know they won’t?
The Giants need a QB. If they don’t get one the coach and GM are gone, whether we like it or not they’re likely taking one early, unless ward and Sanders go 1&2 before we pick. I’m tired of being a bad football team but I almost don’t want a rookie QB bc I think the coach and GM are gone regardless , after this season. Changing coaches and schemes with a young QB does not often work out.
Taking either of Ward or Sanders would be a “Giant” mistake……tired of losing too, but this isn’t the class…..and yes, I do believe that Mara and Tisch should have cleared the decks with both Daboll and Schoen who have not been able to show a clear path to success in the future…..a new coach and GM would then have the ability to judge the roster weakness’s which are way beyond just a QB and start fresh when the had the right QB to draft……drafting either of these two QB’s is a dramatic mistake which will doom the franchise for at least another 5 years….
They should’ve targeted one last year. Instead they went WR, but with no QB to get him the ball. They will draft a worse QB this year, with a more valuable pick, and again will have no QB to get the ball to Nabers. They are wasting two of Nabers control years.
I’ve seen a combined 74 seconds worth of video of Ward and Sanders, but both seem painfully average to me.
Better than Kenny Pickett, that’s about as positive a scouting report as I can offer.
Does anyone who has seen more than 74 seconds of them disagree? If so, why?
Seems like a great year to trade down.
Absolutely but don’t trade back out of the top 10 and go get a starter who can make a difference….take your choice as far as position….the entire roster is the game plan…
I think trading pick makes a lot of sense. See if you can’t get Raiders 25 first rounder, 26 first rounder and 25 3rd rounder. Then flip Raiders 3rd door Jake Browning. Browning knows Callihan offense and he is making no money in 2025. If Browning works out you have QB, if not you have to pick to try and get Arch Manning..Bengals maybe willing to deal Browning as they have only 6 picks and need a lot of help on there defense.
This is all dependent on free agency, if they can swing darnold – reports say Minnesota will keep him- then trade the pick. I struggle with the idea of “we’ll just get a QB next year” there’s no guarantee that they can. Then what? tank and hope you do the worst to be in the same position next year? If they want Carter or Hunter just draft them 1 and sign a QB. Since there doesn’t seem to be ( as of today) a sure fire #1 pick, other teams may not offer what the titans would expect for it. I love the idea of trading out of that pick, but they need a QB and have a chance to get one. Idk, I’m torn here on what Tennessee should do. I’m leaning towards take a QB.
There are just a few tag lines that always get used by people that write articles for a living but the one that gets not only used but severely overused is the whole “Generational Talent” label…a generation is 25-30 years and there is not ANYBODY in this years draft that could remotely be considered “Generational” talent. The chances of any of the top 10 picks lasting half a generation is somewhere between slim and none and slim already left the building.
Tennessee has the first pick so what do they do?
If they are absolutely convinced that Will Levis is not the guy and aren’t 1000% sold on either QB ( Ward or Sanders) and they stand pat with that pick and take Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter on the defensive side of the ball or they put together a really deep draft board and trade out of the 1 spot and get as many other 1st and 2nd round picks as possible…if it’s me…I’m trading the pick and address all of the holes in that lineup and hope that Levis plays just bad enough that they have a shot at getting Arch Manning in the 2026 draft
browns need to pull a sonny weaver special and trade for 1 and 2.. keeping sanders and hunter together
The entire idea is counter-intuitive. If they want to trade back, because there is no QB available, then why would anyone want to trade up?
At least one team reaches on a QB in the draft every year and trade draft capital to do so. This is because not every scouting room hold the same thoughts when they analyze players.
Welcome to football