2025 NFL Draft: Titans reportedly open to trading No. 1 overall pick

The Tennessee Titans earned the first overall pick in the NFL Draft after going 3-14. Now, the franchise looks ready to hit the reset button with that first pick. The only question is how they want to approach that rebuild.

Now, NFL insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that Tennessee may not be committed to using that pick and that the Titans are, in fact, open to trading down out of the top slot.

“While it’s early in the process, Tennessee has an open mind with the first pick, sources say,” Rapoport wrote. “All options are on the table, including possibly trading the pick, and the Titans are expected to receive calls from other teams.”

In his reporting, Rapoport pointed out that the Titans need a new franchise quarterback. However, if Tennessee doesn’t believe that any of the top available quarterbacks fit what they want, then trading back would allow them to add more picks and better build up the roster and its depth in its entirety.

The top two quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft are widely considered to be Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders and Miami‘s Cam Ward. In a recent mock draft by CBS Sports, it was projected that the Titans would use that first overall pick on Ward. In that mock, Sanders went third overall. So, depending on how far down Tennessee would choose to trade the pick, one of those top quarterbacks could also still be available to them.

Tennessee, also, notably still has Will Levis under his rookie contract. A second round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he’s struggled in the NFL but is still a relatively young player who the Titans could turn to next season.

The first overall pick was most recently traded in 2023 when the Chicago Bears sent it to the Carolina Panthers. In exchange, Chicago got a franchise-altering package. That included four draft picks and wide receiver DJ Moore. The picks were two first round and two second round selections. One of those picks even became Caleb Williams, a first overall pick in his own right. Carolina would use that pick they traded for to get Bryce Young, who they’re still hoping will become a franchise quarterback.

The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who have the second and third picks respectively, are both quarterback-needy. So, one or the other could try to trade up to make sure they get the quarterback they want. Then, there are teams outside the top three, like the Las Vegas Raiders, who might trade up for the quarterback they want. So, there are plenty of teams who could move up for a quarterback, before considering the teams that might want to move up for a player at a different position, like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay, beginning on April 24th and running through April 26th.