What Could the Tennessee Titans Get if They Trade 2025 No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Pick?

Could the Tennessee Titans trade the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft?

"We won't pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the NFL draft," Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said earlier this month. "We won't do that."

However, we've heard shot-callers make similarly bold claims before doing just the opposite. And in this case, Brinker leaves himself an out because he, and many, could claim that this draft lacks a generational talent.

"We're going to look at all avenues as far as that No. 1 pick," he also admitted.

Now, it's become apparent that two particular quarterbacks—Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado product Shedeur Sanders—are the most sought-after members of this draft class at that all-important position.

With all due respect to Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter and Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter, if anyone is going to trade with Tennessee for that top selection, it'll almost certainly be to draft Ward or Sanders.

That leaves us with five realistic candidates to move up and ensure they have their pick of the quarterback litter in a draft that might only see two signal-callers go off the board in Round 1.

Here's a preview of what the Titans might be able to get out of those teams in a trade.

Considering how horribly things have gone—and continue to go—with Deshaun Watson, the Browns just might be desperate enough to make this move. With the second pick, they're already positioned to be guaranteed one of those two quarterbacks, but swapping with the Titans would ensure they can get their preferred guy while also ensuring nobody might leapfrog them.

Since no team has ever jumped directly from No. 2 to No. 1, it's tough to gauge the value here. Based on the draft pick trade value chart, the Browns should owe the Titans no more than a second-round selection to make this swap, but that has rarely been an applicable tool for deals involving primo picks with potential franchise quarterbacks in the mix.

The full haul here depends on a lot of variables, including who the other (real or perceived) suitors are, and how high the Titans would like to pick. If they're simply happy with either of those top-tier quarterbacks, or if they want to retain their ability to pick the best non-quarterback on their board, this is the only option and thus might not require a king's ransom.

However, the swap would likely require Cleveland to surrender at least two Day 2 selections.

Predicted return: 2025 No. 2 pick and both of Cleveland's 2025 third-round picks

If in the wake of the Daniel Jones era the Giants convince themselves they need a quarterback right here and right now and it has to be Ward or Sanders, a jump from No. 3 to No. 1 could be on the table.

And if the Titans decide they don't care about either quarterback and want someone like Hunter or Carter in the three spot, they could be compelled to add some draft capital and make this deal.

Logically, it makes more sense than any other potential trade-up in this exercise, because it limits the damage to the Titans and gives an assurance to an increasingly desperate Giants team. That could in theory keep the price somewhat reasonable.

If the Titans really decide neither of those quarterbacks are generational talents, a primo Day 2 selection could do the trick.

Predicted return: 2025 No. 3 pick and 2025 second-round pick

Could the Raiders be desperate enough for a quarterback to leap five spots into the top slot? It's happened before and could certainly happen again, but because this deal would surely cause the Titans to miss out on the top guy on their draft board, the price would have to increase substantially from what the Browns and Giants are looking at.

When the Jets traded the top pick to the Rams in 1997, New York moved back five spots in exchange for only a third, a fourth and a seventh. But a lot has changed in the last quarter-century.

Just two years ago, the Panthers parted with a first and two seconds for the ability to move up eight spots from ninth overall and select Bryce Young.

In this case, we're definitely still dealing with a future first-rounder, as well as an immediate Day 2 pick. It just so happens that Las Vegas has an extra third-rounder courtesy of the Davante Adams trade.

Predicted return: 2025 No. 6 pick, 2026 first-round pick and 2025 third-round pick

Could the Jets attempt something similar from the same range? They pick seventh and might be fired up to replace Aaron Rodgers, if indeed that experiment ends between now and draft day.

If so, we're of course again looking at next year's first as well as immediate Day 2 draft capital. And in this case, that'd potentially have to outweigh what the Raiders have on the table, as New York would be moving up from seven instead of six.

Gang Green also has an extra third-rounder, which could compel them to surrender their second-rounder.

Keep in mind next year's quarterback class is expected to be much stronger, which could cause teams in this area to think twice about dealing up now, but it could also impact what Tennessee might be willing to accept if it lands a second 2026 first-rounder.

If a deal happens, it's unlikely to contain quite as much return capital as Chicago got from Carolina in 2023 or as the Titans got from the Rams in 2016.

Predicted return: 2025 No. 7 pick, 2026 first-round pick and 2025 second-round pick

This would be the exact same jump Carolina made two years ago, with the Saints leaping from No. 9 to No. 1. It's extremely unlikely considering that New Orleans still has Derek Carr and would be better off loading up on more picks if it were to finally commit to a rebuild, but it also can't be totally ruled out because...NFL.

The Saints have an extra third-round pick this year. I believe they'd have to give that up along with the obvious 2026 first-rounder, and probably another Day 2 selection.

Predicted return: 2025 No. 9 pick, 2026 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick and 2025 third-round pick