Struggling Titans dive into rebuilding by trading 2 starters for draft picks

Published Oct. 23, 2024 6:12 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans got a jump on the NFL trade deadline by starting to stock up Wednesday on draft picks with a pair of trades.

More moves are likely for a franchise mired in a 1-5 start that is the Titans' worst since 2015 that cost Ken Whisenhunt his job after going 1-6 to open his second season. Tennessee could reach 1-6 Sunday after a game at Detroit (5-1).

Coach Brian Callahan couldn't address the moves, which weren't finalized when he talked with reporters midday. He called such moves the reality of the NFL business and made clear this isn't what the Titans expected after being among the league's biggest spenders 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 reportedly will be paying some of Hopkins' salary with the conditional fifth-round selection becoming a fourth if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six seasons.

Then they traded their second-leading tackler in linebacker Ernest Jones Jr. to Seattle for linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick.

That ended a short stay in Tennessee for Jones, who was traded by the Rams to the Titans in late August and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Jones led the Rams in tackles last season and was their defensive signal-caller in 2023. Jones started five of his six games with Tennessee.

The Jones' trade alone nets the Titans a fourth-round pick in April and a sixth-rounder in 2026 along with Baker at the cost of a fifth-rounder in 2026. Baker, 27, 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 said he didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Hopkins, so he reached out to him via FaceTime. Jones was in a defensive meeting this morning but not at a walk-through before practice.

“We lost two good players today,” Simmons said.

The current moves leave the Titans with eight selections in next April's NFL draft, and this start puts them on a path toward the franchise's highest draft pick since 2017 when they made Corey Davis the first wide receiver taken at No. 5 overall.

Callahan said they're working to win as many games as possible down the stretch in a season where he's made clear the Titans want to get a true evaluation of second-year quarterback Will Levis.

The Titans coach also said he was leaning toward scratching Levis for a second straight game to further heal the quarterback's throwing shoulder after Levis sprained his right AC joint Sept. 30. Levis started the next game coming off the team's bye, yet threw for only 95 yards in a loss to the Colts.

Levis usually talks to reporters on Wednesday, and both Levis and Mason Rudolph will talk Thursday instead.

Other tradeable assets include 2021 Pro Bowl linebacker Harold Landry, who has four sacks through six starts with an out in his contract after this season.

The Titans are in the final week of assessing whether to add rookie linebacker Cedric Gray to the active roster. The fourth-round pick out of North Carolina started the season on injured reserve with an injured shoulder.

Callahan said it's the front office's job to look to the future. For the coaches and players, winning is their only goal now.

“There’s still a whole locker room of guys out 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.”

Injury update

OT Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring), WR Calvin Ridley (foot) and CB L'Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) did not practice. Levis was limited along with RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring).

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed.

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