Could the Titans trade down from No. 35 overall during the 2025 NFL Draft?
The Tennessee Titans are entering the 2025 NFL Draft with just two 100 selections. They’re going to draft quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 overall. That leaves general manager Mike Borgonzi with one remaining top-100 selection to address their non-QB needs.
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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2025
The Titans are without a third-round pick as a result of last year’s L’Jarius Sneed trade, which Borgonzi negotiated with the Titans as the Kansas City Chiefs’ assistant general manager. Borgonzi is now tasked with course-correcting.
Borgonzi probably has to trade down from the No. 35 overall selection in the second round in order to acquire the missing third-round pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently speculated that it’s well within the realm of possibility.
“A team looking for more firepower on Friday night will be the Titans, who in a bit of irony don’t have a third-round pick thanks to their own general manager, Mike Borgonzi. Just over a year ago, Borgonzi was the assistant GM for the Chiefs and a central figure in the trade that sent cornerback L’Jarius Sneed from Kansas City to Tennessee in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick,” Schefter wrote. “Now, Borgonzi has been hired to help build up the Titans’ roster. Borgonzi turned down the Giants’ overtures to trade up to No. 1 in a package of picks that would have included a third-round pick this year. Now he’ll have to see if he can find a way back into that round.”
The Titans have huge holes at wide receiver and EDGE. They’re currently slated to choose between those spots at No. 35 overall. If Borgonzi successfully trades down and acquires another top-100 pick, the Titans could appropriately address both needs at premium positions.
The Titans also have additional needs. Interior offensive line (depth for Lloyd Cushenberry/succession plan for Kevin Zeitler), cornerback depth, a future starting safety, and linebacker are secondary needs in Tennessee. The Titans have also been sniffing around defensive tackles and running backs.
Trading down from No. 35 would offer the Titans additional capital to fill all their roster requirements.