Titans’ trade strategy with No. 1 NFL draft pick could play into Giants hands

INDIANAPOLIS – The тιтans are willing to trade the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft … sort of.

First-year general manager Mike Borgonzi said there are “a handful of players … that you would deem generational talents,” and it doesn’t sound like he is willing to trade out of range for one of those elite players. Even though trading further down would mean a bigger quanтιтy of picks to make up for lesser quality.

“You certainly don’t want to pᴀss up on one of those players,” Borgonzi said. “In an opportunity to trade back, it depends how far you can go back to get that player. There is a strategy to it.”

Tennessee тιтans General Manager Mike Borgonzi speaking at a microphone during the NFL Scouting Combine, February 25, 2025 — тιтan new GM Mike Borgonzi broke down the team’s draft plans at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, 2025. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

That could be good news for the Browns, Giants or Patriots, if any of the other teams holding top-four picks wants to move up.

The common perception in NFL scouting circles is that pᴀss-rusher Abdul Carter and cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter are worthy of the “generational” label, while quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be pushed up boards because of the positional premium in a weak quarterback class.

“We’ve had some phone calls, yeah,” Borgonzi said.

The No. 1 pick has been traded 13 times, including three times in the 21st Century. The Panthers moved down to No. 9 in 2023, the тιтans moved down to No. 15 in 2016 and the Chargers moved down to No. 5 in 2001.

The Chargers did not receive an additional first-round pick for their small drop.

Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes throwing a football during a game against the Syracuse Orange — Cam Ward could be the top quarterback selected in draft. Getty Images

“Any time you are trading the No. 1 pick, you are going to expect a big return,” Borgonzi said. “I think that’s our expectation.”

The тιтans are in the quarterback market and Borgonzi – who came from the Patrick Mahomes-powered Chiefs – will make it his immediate mission to “solidify” the position. He said that signing a free-agent quarterback won’t necessarily stop the тιтans from drafting one and creating a three-player mix with incumbent starter Will Levis.

The other path forward is to build up one of the NFL’s worst rosters and worry about adding a quarterback later.

“If we deem taking a quarterback is the most important thing right now, then we’ll do that,” Borgonzi said. “You can have Superman back there, but if you don’t have the protection up front to protect and run the football, that’s the most important thing.”