The Tennessee Titans took action ahead of the NFL trade deadline by making two trades to gather draft picks on Wednesday.
The team, which is off to a disappointing 1-5 start—the worst since 2015—could fall to 1-6 after facing Detroit (5-1) on Sunday. Coach Brian Callahan couldn’t comment on the trades since they weren’t finalized when he spoke to reporters.
He acknowledged that such moves are a part of NFL life and emphasized that this isn’t what the Titans had expected after spending significantly in free agency.
“That’s part of our life in the league,” Callahan said. “And when you get to these juncture points in the season and things like this happen. I mean, it’s usually because you’re in the spot we’re in.”
The Titans traded three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City early Wednesday. Tennessee will reportedly cover part of Hopkins’ salary, and a conditional fifth-round pick will turn into a fourth-round pick if the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six years.
They also traded linebacker Ernest Jones Jr., their second-leading tackler, to Seattle in exchange for linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick.
Jones had a brief time with the Titans after being traded from the Rams in late August. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and started five of his six games with Tennessee. Last season, he led the Rams in tackles and was their defensive leader in 2023.
This trade gives the Titans a fourth-round pick in April and a sixth-round pick in 2026, along with Baker, who has started 87 of his 99 games and signed a one-year deal with Seattle in March.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons mentioned that he didn’t get to say goodbye to Hopkins, so he contacted him through FaceTime. Jones was in a defensive meeting but missed the walk-through before practice.
“We lost two good players today,” Simmons said.
With these recent trades, the Titans now have eight picks for next April’s NFL draft. This poor start could lead them to their highest draft pick since 2017, when they selected Corey Davis as the first wide receiver at No. 5 overall.
Callahan stated they are focused on winning as many games as possible during the rest of the season, as they want to properly evaluate second-year quarterback Will Levis.
The Titans coach also mentioned he might sit Levis for a second straight game to let his throwing shoulder heal. Levis sprained his right AC joint on September 30 and started the following game after the team’s bye, but he only threw for 95 yards in a loss to the Colts.
Levis usually speaks to reporters on Wednesdays, but both he and Mason Rudolph will talk on Thursday instead.
Other tradeable players include 2021 Pro Bowl linebacker Harold Landry, who has four sacks this season and an option in his contract after this year.
The Titans are also deciding whether to add rookie linebacker Cedric Gray to the active roster. He was on injured reserve to start the season due to a shoulder injury.
Callahan said it’s the front office’s job to think about the future, while the coaches and players are focused on winning right now.
“There’s still a whole locker room of guys down here that are playing hard and playing for each other, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Callahan said. “So again, opportunities will arise and guys got to take advantage of them.”
