Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans’ front office, led by general manager Ran Carthon, has made it clear that a “trade back” strategy will be central to their upcoming NFL Draft approach. Rather than staying put at their current first-round pick (projected to be in the 12–15 range), the Titans plan to swap down with teams eager to move up for quarterbacks or top-tier skill players. This tactic isn’t about settling for less talent; it’s about maximizing draft capital to address multiple roster gaps—especially on the offensive line and at wide receiver—while avoiding overpaying for prospects who don’t align with their long-term vision. Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans breaks down why this approach makes sense for the Titans, which teams they’re likely to partner with, and how they’ll use the extra picks to build depth around franchise quarterback Cam Ward. For Titans fans, this strategy signals a pragmatic shift toward sustainable roster building, rather than chasing short-term wins with high-risk moves.

Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans begins with the core rationale: the Titans’ need to fill more than one critical hole. After last season’s 8–9 finish, the team lacks a long-term solution at left tackle, depth at guard, and a reliable second wide receiver to complement DeAndre Hopkins. Staying in the mid-first round would let them address one of these needs—perhaps a tackle like Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum or a receiver like USC’s Jordan Addison—but it would leave other gaps unaddressed. By trading back 5–10 spots, the Titans can acquire an additional second or third-round pick, letting them target two high-value prospects instead of one. “When you have multiple needs, trading back is the smartest way to get more bullets in your gun,” says NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler. “The Titans don’t have a ‘can’t-miss’ need that requires staying in the top 10—they need to build depth across the board, and extra picks let them do that.” The Titans’ recent history supports this logic: in 2025, they traded back from the 18th pick to the 25th, gaining a third-rounder that they used to select guard Lucas Miller, who started 11 games as a rookie.

Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans continues with the specific teams the Titans are likely to target for trade-back deals. The most plausible partners are teams in “win-now” modes that need to move up for a quarterback—such as the New England Patriots (holding the 17th pick, seeking a successor to Mac Jones) or the New Orleans Saints (20th pick, looking to replace Derek Carr). These teams have extra mid-round picks to offer, making a swap mutually beneficial: the Patriots or Saints get a shot at a quarterback like North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, while the Titans gain additional capital. For example, a trade with the Patriots could send the Titans’ 12th pick to New England in exchange for the 17th pick plus a 2026 third-rounder. “Teams drafting quarterbacks are willing to overpay to move up, and the Titans can leverage that,” says former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum. “The Patriots have a history of trading picks to secure QBs, and the Saints need to find a long-term answer at the position—both are perfect trade partners for the Titans.” This scenario lets the Titans still select a high-quality prospect in the late first round (like a tackle or receiver) while adding a third-round pick to address guard or cornerback depth.

Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans shifts to how the Titans will evaluate prospects once they trade back—prioritizing “value over need” to avoid reaching for players. Carthon and his scouting team have emphasized that they’ll target prospects who grade as first-round talents but fall to the late first or early second round due to positional depth or minor concerns. For instance, if a tackle like Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison (projected to go in the top 15) slips to the 20th pick, the Titans will pounce—even if they’ve already addressed another need—because his talent outweighs the urge to fill a specific hole. “Trading back only works if you have a board full of prospects you’re confident in,” says Titans scouting director Monti Ossenfort. “We’ve spent all offseason ranking players by talent, not just position, so if a top-tier tackle or receiver falls, we’ll take them regardless of where we are in the draft.” For the Tennessee Titans, this approach reduces risk: instead of forcing a pick at a position of need in the mid-first round, they can wait for a more talented player to become available later, then use extra picks to fill the remaining gaps. This flexibility is especially important given the uncertainty of the draft—prospects often slide unexpectedly, and the Titans want to be prepared to capitalize.

Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans delves into how the extra picks from trading back will support the team’s long-term rebuild around Cam Ward. The Titans currently hold six picks in the 2026 draft, but a successful trade back could increase that to eight or nine, including multiple picks in the second and third rounds. These additional selections will be used to draft young, cost-controlled players who can grow with Ward—critical for a team that will need to re-sign key veterans like Derrick Henry and Jeffery Simmons in the next two years. For example, a third-round pick could be used to select a developmental tight end or a backup running back to eventually replace Henry, while a fourth-round pick could target a cornerback to add depth behind Kristian Fulton. “The salary cap is only going to get tighter, so having young players on rookie contracts is essential,” says Titans cap specialist Brandon Taylor. “Trading back lets us stockpile those players, which will let us keep our star players while still fielding a competitive roster.” For the Tennessee Titans, this strategy aligns with their broader goal: building a team that can compete for AFC South titles for the next five years, not just one. By surrounding Ward with young talent, they’re ensuring he has the support to develop into a championship-caliber quarterback.

Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans wraps up with the potential risks of the strategy—and how the Titans plan to mitigate them. The biggest danger is that the top prospects at their key positions (left tackle, wide receiver) are taken before they trade back, leaving them with fewer impactful options. To avoid this, the Titans have identified “fallback prospects” at each position—players who may not be first-round talents but have the potential to start within a year. For example, if all top tackles are off the board, they’ll target a guard like Alabama’s Emil Ekiyor Jr., who can play both guard and center and contribute immediately as a backup. The Titans also plan to stay in constant communication with other teams during the draft, so they can pivot quickly if a trade back isn’t possible. “You have to be flexible,” Carthon says. “Our goal is to trade back, but if the right deal doesn’t come, we’re prepared to stay put and take the best player available.” For the Tennessee Titans, the trade-back strategy is a calculated bet that the reward—more picks, more talent, and more flexibility—will outweigh the risk of missing out on a single prospect. As they look to build a contender around Ward, this approach offers the best chance to address multiple needs while staying true to their long-term rebuild. In the end, Trade Back Strategy Aims to Secure Talent for the Tennessee Titans is a story about patience and pragmatism—qualities that have defined the NFL’s most successful franchises.