With the NFL trade deadline coming up on Nov. 10, the 1-6 Tennessee Titans are shaping up as a team that could do some dealing rather than chasing help. General manager Mike Borgonzi has every reason to keep loading up on draft capital while he works through the rebuild, and ESPN’s Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler recently put together a list of 25 possible trade candidates around the league.
Three Titans landed on that list.
At edge rusher, Jermaine Johnson II checks a lot of boxes for a contender. He’s a veteran on an expiring contract, the kind of player a playoff team can plug in right away for a pass-rush boost.
Tennessee acquired him in the offseason in exchange for T’Vondre Sweat, so moving him again would not be the cleanest look, but that doesn’t change the basic logic of the deal. As Fowler wrote, “Teams in the market for an edge rusher believe Johnson could be available at the right price,”
Tony Pollard is in a similar spot. He’s another veteran playing on an expiring deal, and that alone makes him a name to watch.
Earlier this season, Borgonzi apparently turned aside interest in dealing Pollard, though that still doesn’t make the possibility go away. The bigger issue is what losing him would mean for the Titans’ ability to judge Cam Ward and the offense.
Fowler also pointed out that “Several teams could use a running back, and Pollard is an attractive fallback plan if the Colts stand pat on [Jonathan] Taylor,”
Alontae Taylor was the third Titan included on ESPN’s list.
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Titans Suddenly Have A Real RB2 Debate Behind Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was supposed to have a firmer grip on the Titans No. 2 running back job, but a knee injury and uneven play have opened the door for someone else. Michael Carter has been getting more work in recent games, and his ability to handle all three downs has caught attention from coach Robert Saleh. In a backfield that already leans heavily on Tony Pollard, the battle for touches behind him has become a real subplot.
Carters recent production has outpaced both Spears and rookie Nick Singleton, and that alone is changing the conversation about how Tennessee wants to structure its backfield. If Spears cannot get back to form, the Titans may have to decide whether Carter is simply a short-term fill-in or the more reliable option as RB2. The picture could shift again if Pollard is traded, which would only make this situation more important to watch in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
The trade chatter around the AFC South has widened beyond the usual deadline-day noise, with multiple NFL teams reportedly inquiring about deals for Colts receiver Josh Downs and Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The latest buzz has also linked Jacksonville to a possible pursuit of Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, adding another layer to a division already full of roster questions as teams weigh whether to buy, sell or stay put.
League sources have also put Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor in the conversation as potential trade candidates, which only adds to the sense that the market could move quickly if one deal gets enough traction. For the Titans, it is another reminder that the division around them is not standing still, and any shift at the deadline could alter both the short-term race and the longer view of how these rivals are built. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Loom In One Of The NFLs Biggest Trade Decisions
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the league has already seen one of its most consequential in-season swings, as the Colts moved guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for future draft picks and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a draft pick. Deals of that size have a way of resetting the market, and they tend to invite every team with a meaningful decision to the center of the conversation.
For Tennessee, that matters because Jeffery Simmons is part of the wider trade discussion now forming around some of the leagues biggest names. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas and Budda Baker are also being floated as potential candidates, with possible landing spots already being mapped out, but the bigger question is how aggressive teams become once a move like Seattles changes the temperature. The Titans may not be the only club watching closely, but they are firmly among the teams who need to know where that market is heading before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]