Could the Titans trade up in 2023 NFL Draft?

All eyes may now be on free agency, but some chatter among NFL insiders hints that the Tennessee Titans may still be looking to trade up in this year’s draft. And how does the Bears-Panthers deal impact the Titans and their AFC South rivals?

Early speculation was that the Titans were one of a handful of teams looking to trade up to the first pick, with latter reports proposing the Chicago Bears would trade their number one pick with either them or the Carolina Panthers.

The eventual trade with the Panthers was confirmed on 10 March, and whilst there are only unofficial accounts to go by, Tennessee were prepared to offer something not too dissimilar to the Panthers with the exception – and the possible deal breaker – of WR DJ Moore.

Reports also conflict over whether Derrick Henry is being actively traded, or whether trade inquiries are modestly being listened to. There was nothing to suggest Henry, or even Jeffery Simmons, were offered as part of a trade, but if so Chicago chose not to opt for such a deal.

The huge trade between the Bears and Panthers all but rules out the Titans, or indeed any other franchise, from securing that first pick, although some internet rumours suggest that may not entirely remain the case.

So what now for Mike Vrabel, Ran Carthon and the Titans franchise?

AFC South josting

Before the Panthers secured the first overall pick, the Titans were faced with a potentially challenging scenario in the AFC South this season. The QB picture will already feature Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville, who raised the bar this last season and is making the Jaguars a more formidable opponent; the Texans would then originally have had their primary choice of quarterback in the draft (Bryce Young or CJ Stroud); with the Colts then drafting another top QB prospect (assumedly whoever the Texans didn’t take).

The Panthers now being on the clock first theoretically decreases the probability of both Young and Stroud playing out of the AFC South this year – or at least so we first thought. The broad consensus previously was that Carolina would take Bryce Young.

In doing so, Will Levis, CJ Stroud or Anthony Richardson would then be available to the Texans and the Colts. That said, Anthony Richardson has now emerged as a budding target for the Panthers after shining at the Combine earlier in the month, with Head Coach Frank Reich being big on him. 

The latest reports now indicate that the Panthers are yet to make any speedy decision between the quadruplet of quarterbacks they now have at their fingertips.

Once the Panthers do choose, they may then be tempted to roll the dice and see if they can downgrade their pick. Either a calculated risk or a game of smoke and mirrors, but the idea is that if they can be assured of getting their rookie QB (whomever that may be), they can move down the order slightly and pick up additional draft collateral elsewhere.

Titans to still trade up?

The Titans might still yet trade up in the draft. 

The Arizona Cardinals currently have the third pick and have for some time been widely expected to draft Edge Will Anderson (Alabama). Given there are four quarterbacks due to go inside the first ten picks of the draft, the Cardinals’ number three pick rapidly becomes interesting and something to attempt to obtain. 

With Indianapolis having the fourth pick, usurping them would not only help the Titans get their possible quarterback, but could also in theory deny the Colts theirs at the same time.

However, and amid the ongoing releases in Tennessee, the Titans perhaps do not have the same capital as other teams to make Arizona consider swapping. Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals new GM is a former Titans executive, but don’t expect to see any favours when it comes to something as precarious as the draft.

No new QB in Tennessee?

Now that the Titans are unlikely to be able to get a top-level QB in the draft, it would imply that Ryan Tannehill remains in place in Tennessee. Tannehill had been linked to the New York Jets, but the imminent signing of Aaron Rodgers means that the Jets are no longer in the hunt for a QB.

The Titans may look to secure another rookie QB, Hendon Hooker, in the draft, but are doubtful to do so in the first round.

From Chicago to Paris?

At this stage – and unless trades elsewhere give way to new opportunity – it is improbable that the Titans will be able to get near the top of the draft to take a quarterback. Attention may then turn to what (or who) else they need in their ranks. 

In the absence of Taylor Lewan, and in light of Dennis Daley’s 2022 records, top of the scouting list was LT Paris Johnson (Ohio State). His pass blocking ability could plug the gap on the left whilst Nicholas Petit-Frere continues to develop on the right.

It was therefore unanticipated then, that on the first day of free agency, the Titans signed former Eagles LT Andre Dilliard on a 3-year $29million deal. Dilliard can play LT and LG, so Johnson could still be on the Titans wishlist and whilst it is too early to speculate, this signing may have been a result of suspecting that the Bears will attempt to pluck him in the draft.

The Bears have already commenced strengthening their O-Line, with none other than former Titans guard Nate Davis upon the start of free agency and drafting Johnson at ninth (ahead of Tennessee at eleventh) would be another key piece of Chicago’s O-Line puzzle.

In the absence of Johnson, and if they remain where they are in the draft, the Titans may look to obtain Peter Skoronski instead.

Dillard is the first free agency signing by the Titans, who may have missed their opportunity to trade up in the draft. With fans eagerly awaiting to see what they do next during free agency, it’ll be an anxious, if not interesting, time for the Tennessee faithful.