The Titans’ season has taken a sharp turn toward the draft board, and the NFL trade deadline only accelerated the slide. With Tennessee sitting at 1-7 entering Week 10 against Jacksonville, general manager Mike Borgonzi made it clear where his priorities lie by moving Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker for future picks.
That leaves Robert Saleh trying to navigate the rest of the year without two of the defense’s best players. Cam Ward and the offense, at least, are moving in the right direction, but the bigger picture for Tennessee now looks a lot more like draft positioning than wins and losses.
At the moment, the Titans are in line for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. They’re tied with the Miami Dolphins at 1-7, but Tennessee holds the edge in the tiebreaker thanks to a much easier strength of schedule at .479 compared with Miami’s .586. That number can swing from week to week, so the race is far from settled, but for now the Titans are sitting in the better spot.
The top of the board is led by the Los Angeles Chargers, who are still winless at 0-8. That makes them the current favorite for No. 1 overall, even if the idea of them moving on from Justin Herbert and taking this class’ QB1 Drew Mestemaker is not the expectation in November. If the Chargers stay at the top, Jeremiah Smith is the more likely name they’d target.
Borgonzi’s deadline moves also changed the Titans’ long-term outlook in a major way. Simmons went to the Chicago Bears for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, plus an additional fourth-rounder in 2027.
Hooker was dealt to the Buffalo Bills for a 2027 second-round pick. That’s a serious haul, and it means Tennessee fans now have more than their own record to monitor.
The Bears’ first-round pick is currently projected at No. 30 overall, while the Bills’ second-rounder sits at No. 64 because Buffalo is projected to win the Super Bowl. That gives Tennessee a draft stash worth tracking well beyond its own place in the order.
As for Jeremiah Smith, the idea has caught fire with Titans fans, even though receiver is not really the roster’s biggest problem. Tennessee already added his former teammate Carnell Tate at No. 4 overall in April, but Smith remains the dream target because he’s viewed as the best receiver prospect we’ve ever seen.
The more obvious holes are on the edge and at cornerback. That’s where players like Dylan Stewart, Colin Simmons and Leonard Moore come into the picture if Tennessee doesn’t land the top pick. Those spots line up with some of the best talent in the class.
If the Titans are going to get Smith, the path likely runs through leapfrogging the Chargers, Dolphins and New York Jets for No. 1 overall. Right now, the Chargers are the biggest obstacle. But if Tennessee ends up tied for the league’s worst record, its .479 strength of schedule would give it the best tiebreaker path to the top spot.
For now, though, Titans fans seem to have already shifted their focus to the 2027 draft.
In Other News...
Jeffery Simmons Opens Up About Titans Move That Still Stings
Jeffery Simmons did not hide how much the move still lingers after Tennessee sent him to Chicago on Oct. 29 for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, the former Titans star said he was surprised by the trade, but also made clear he understood the business side of it and respected the decision.
For Tennessee, the deal was as much about draft capital as it was about parting with one of the leagues most disruptive interior defenders. Simmons has wasted little time making an impact with the Bears, recording sacks in each of his first two games and leading all interior defensive linemen in sacks through Week 9, a reminder of exactly what the Titans gave up when they made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face A Big Question About Their Top Receiver Pick
The Titans used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receiver Carnell Tate, then moved back into the first round to grab Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk, making it clear they wanted to leave the opening night of the draft with premium talent at premium spots. It was the kind of aggressive approach that can reshape a roster quickly, and it also put a spotlight on how Tennessee plans to build around its newest offensive centerpiece.
Tates arrival brings immediate intrigue because the conversation around him is not just about draft value, but about fit and what his early production could look like in Tennessees offense. The Titans also added other pieces in the class, and the comparisons being drawn to other rookie receiver starts only sharpen the scrutiny on whether Tate can justify being the headliner of the group. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Passing Game Faces A Bigger Concern Around Cam Ward
Carnell Tates shoulder injury is becoming a real issue for Tennessee at a time when the passing game could use all the help it can get. The rookie receiver is set to miss his second straight game, leaving the Titans to piece together their offense without one of quarterback Cam Wards more important targets heading into a matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
For a young quarterback, losing a receiver with Tates role is more than a short-term inconvenience. It puts more pressure on the rest of the receiving group to create separation and keep the offense on schedule, while also shining a light on how much help Tennessee may still need at wide receiver going forward. The Titans can only manage the present for so long before the bigger roster question comes back into focus. [Read more 🡒]