Mike Borgonzi didn’t just work the trade deadline. He tilted it.
With the Tennessee Titans in flux, the GM needed to show he could steer the franchise through a messy stretch, and his deadline haul made a strong case. Borgonzi moved Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker, and the return leaves Tennessee sitting on a stack of draft capital over the next two years.
For 2027, the Titans now hold a first-round pick, a first-round pick from the Chicago Bears, a second-round pick, a second-round pick from the Buffalo Bills, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, a fourth-round pick from the Bears, a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick.
For 2028, they have a first-round pick, a first-round pick from the Bears, a second-round pick, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick.
That haul stands out on its own. It looks even better when stacked against what the rest of the AFC South did.
The Jacksonville Jaguars helped set the market in a way that worked in Tennessee’s favor. Their trade of a first-round pick and a second-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles for Jordan Davis drew heavy criticism, and that premium price helped establish the going rate for defensive tackles.
The Jaguars also sent a package that included a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for safety Jessie Bates, a move that could help them, but one that came at a steep cost for an aging safety on an expiring deal. It also pushed the safety market higher, which played right into the Titans’ hands when they dealt Hooker to the Buffalo Bills for a second-rounder.
In other words, the Jaguars helped create the conditions that let Borgonzi cash in twice.
The Colts were trying to rebuild too, but their return didn’t come close to Tennessee’s. Interim GM Ed Dodds can only work with the offers in front of him, yet the contrast is still stark: the Titans moved two players and landed two first-round picks and a second-round pick, while Indianapolis traded DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson and Josh Downs and came away with only one top-100 pick, a third-rounder for Nelson.
That’s a lot of talent out the door for not much premium draft help. The Colts also seemed to stop short of a full reset by holding onto Jonathan Taylor, which limited their ability to add more high-end picks. Borgonzi’s results, by comparison, dwarf what Indianapolis got back.
Houston barely moved at the deadline, but the Texans still managed to leave value on the table. They passed on a chance to get something for Jadeveon Clowney, and they also sent a second-round pick for Marvin Harrison Jr., who is averaging two receptions for 20 yards per game since the move. It won’t create immediate damage, but it is still a costly deal for a player who is their fifth-best receiver.
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Jaguars Just Gave Titans Fans Another Reason To Feel Disrespected
Jacksonville is already treating this week like a transition period, and that matters for Tennessee because the Jaguars are making roster moves with the Titans right in the middle of the schedule. Coach Liam Coen said new defensive additions Jordan Davis and Jessie Bates will not play in the upcoming matchup, with the team citing player safety, time to learn the system and the timing of the trades as reasons for keeping them out.
Davon Godchaux, another recent acquisition, will be available, so the Jaguars are not sitting all of their fresh faces. Still, for Titans fans looking at a divisional opponent that can afford to ease in key pieces while preparing for Tennessee, it is another reminder of how much the AFC South race can hinge on timing, health and how quickly a team can absorb change. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Lost Two Key Pieces Before A Brutal Jaguars Test
The Titans are heading into a tough Week 10 matchup with Jacksonville short-handed in two important spots, after placing offensive guard Peter Skoronski and punter Tommy Townsend on injured reserve. Both moves will keep them out at least four games, and they come at a time when Tennessee can least afford more instability up front or on special teams.
Skoronskis absence takes another piece out of an offensive line that already has plenty to sort through, while Townsends loss forces the Titans to adjust the kicking game against a Jaguars team that has been a difficult test. For a roster trying to steady itself in a divisional stretch, losing two contributors at once only sharpens the challenge ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rebuild Already Centers On One Huge 2027 Draft Decision
The Titans rebuild already has a long view attached to it, and the latest draft math only sharpens the picture. After dealing Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker for future picks, Tennessee now sits with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, a spot that could end up shaping the next phase of the roster more than any short-term move ever will.
For a team trying to reset its foundation, the early read is that edge rusher and cornerback will be the places to watch. Colin Simmons, Leonard Moore and Dylan Stewart have all surfaced as possible targets, and each brings a different kind of appeal as the Titans start mapping out where the next core piece might come from. The decision is still far off, but the path to it is already becoming part of the story. [Read more 🡒]