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The Tennessee Titans are reportedly expected to at least listen to offers for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft over the next couple of months.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans have “an open mind” when it comes to the pick and potential trade offers. Rapoport added that the Titans are indeed expected to receive calls from teams interested in the top selection as well.
A big reason why the Titans had a league-worst 3-14 record in 2024 was quarterback play, as Will Levis and Mason Rudolph combined to throw nearly as many touchdowns as interceptions with 22 touchdowns and 21 picks.
Because of that, the Titans could consider either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders with the No. 1 overall selection to be their new franchise quarterback.
However, most talent evaluators seemingly don’t view Ward and Sanders in the same light as last year’s quarterback class of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.
Williams, Daniels and Maye went off the board with the first three picks in the 2024 NFL draft, as all of them were considered high-upside quarterback prospects with a high probability of being quality NFL players.
Since things are a bit less certain with Ward and Sanders, the Titans could instead opt to go with the best player available, which would likely be either Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter.
On their latest big board, the BR NFL Scouting Department ranked Ward as the No. 8 overall player in the 2025 NFL draft and Sanders at No. 16, while Hunter and Carter were Nos. 1 and 2.
Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker seemed to indicate last month that the organization won’t force a pick at quarterback if they feel better players are available at other positions, saying the Titans won’t “pass on a generational talent.”
If the Titans do trade out of the No. 1 overall pick, it will likely be for one of two reasons.
One scenario would see the Titans trading with a team that wants to move up for a quarterback. In that scenario, the Titans could move down to a spot where they believe they could still land an elite prospect at another position such as Hunter or Carter.
The other potential situation could be a case of the Titans wanting a quarterback but feeling confident that he would still be available in a trade-down scenario, meaning they could possibly trade down, acquire more assets and still get their franchise quarterback.
Regardless of what the Titans decide to do, they are in the catbird seat, and they could set themselves up for future success by either trading the top pick or standing pat and selecting a franchise-altering player.
