NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The popular thinking regarding the Titans and the No. 1 pick in the draft is that Cam Ward may not be worthy of the slot. So then Tennessee should look to trade down, ideally not far, to stay within range of a top non-QB.
For that to happen, the Titans need another quarterback desperate team to trade up – ideally giving up a 2026 first-round pick in a QB-taxed deal.
The trouble with that is the potential for a consensus on Ward not being No. 1 worthy.
What if other QB-needy teams don’t like Ward either, or will take their chances he’s there at No. 2 (Browns), No. 3 (Giants), No. 6 (Raiders) or No. 7 (Jets)? What if they’d trade up, but not to the first spot?
That would all be bad for the Titans.
What they need is QB desperation.
Let’s look at the field of teams the Titans need a suitor to emerge from, their decisions-makers, their timelines and desperation factors.
I’d say the Titans have been quarterback-starved since 2021, when they were 11-5 with Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill threw for 222.7 yards a game, 21 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 94.6 passer rating.
Cleveland Browns, No. 2
The Browns' long struggle at QB is their identity in many ways.
Their March 2022 trade for Deshaun Watson was supposed to fix that. He was coming off a year suspension for accusations of sexual assault and wound up starting his Cleveland career with an 11-game suspension.
The Browns gave up their first and fourth-round picks in 2022, their first and third-round picks in 2023, and their first and fourth-round picks in 2024 while giving Watson a five-year $230 million guaranteed contract.
The return?
He’s played 19 of a possible 40 games for the Browns over three years during which the team’s gone 9-10 while he’s thrown 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while posting an 80.7 passer rating.
Watson is recovering from a re-torn Achilles and is expected to miss a significant portion of 2025.
Owner Jim Haslam was behind the trade for Watson.
During Andrew Berry’s time as GM since 2020, the team has played 10 different quarterbacks.
QBs under contract: Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Most recently QBs drafted: Thompson-Robinson, fifth round, 2023; Baker Mayfield, first round (first), 2018.
Berry’s clock: Sixth year, 40-44 record, two playoff appearances, one playoff win.
QB starved since: 2020 – Baker Mayfield, 11-5, 222.7 yards/game, 26 TDs, eight INTs, 95.9 passer rating.
New York Giants, No. 3
The Giants benched and cut Daniel Jones in 2024 after a six-year failed experiment that included a controversial 2023 extension: Four years, $160 million with a $36 million signing bonus and $81 million guaranteed at signing per spotrac.
The team was 22-44-1 with him as its starter, peaking at 9-6-1 in 2022. After Jones was benched after Week 10, they turned to Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.
Jones was not the right choice to succeed Eli Manning. Dave Gettleman was GM when the Giants chose Jones in 2018.
QBs under contract: None.
Most recently drafted QBs: Jones, fifth round (sixth), 2019; Kyle Lauletta, fourth round (108th), 2018; Davis Webb, third round (87th) 2017.
Joe Schoen’s clock: Fourth year, 18-32-1, one playoff appearance, one playoff win.
QB starved since: 2016 – Eli Manning, 11-5, 251.7 yards/game, 26 TDs, 16 INTs, 86.0 passer rating
(Unless you like 2022 – Daniel Jones, 9-6-1, 200.3 yards/game, 15 TDs, five INTs, 92.5 passer rating)
Las Vegas Raiders, No. 6
New GM John Spytek inherits a team with Aiden O’Connell, who started seven games last year in which the Raiders were 2-5. He threw eight touchdowns, four picks and posted an 86.7 passer rating.
Spytek came from Tampa Bay, where during his four years in a high executive role, the Bucs had Tom Brady for two and Baker Mayfield for two.
His options arent going to be anywhere near that proven is his first go-round with Las Vegas. Are they interested in Ward or Shedeur Sanders at the top here, or do they perhaps like one of the second tier quarterbacks like Jaxson Dart who they could surprise with high or probably get later?
QBs under contract: Aiden O’Connell, Carter Bradley
Most recently drafted QBs: O’Connell, fourth round (135th), 2023.
Spytek’s clock: Brand new.
QB starved since: 2021 – Derek Carr, 10-7, 283 yards/game, 23 TDs, 14 INTs, 94.0 passer rating.
New York Jets, No. 7
The Jets are moving on from Aaron Rodgers under new coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. Mougey is familiar with transitioning from a pricey veteran. He was in the Denver front office a year ago when it dumped Russell Wilson and moved on with Bo Nix, the 12th pick in the draft.
You have to go back through Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Sam Darnold and Zach McCown to find steady winning QB play from an unlikely journeyman source for the Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick's a pitchman and commentator now.
Have to wonder about the second tier for them as well, with Dart, Jalen Milroe, Kyle McCord near the top of that group.
QBs under contract: Rodgers (for now), Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, Adrian Martinez.
Most recently drafted QBs: Travis, fifth round (171st), 2024; Zach Wilson, first round (2nd), 2021. Travis missed his rookie year recovering from as serious injury suffered at Florida State.
Mougey’s clock: Brand new.
QB starved since: 2015 -- Ryan Fitzpatrick, 10-6, 244.1 yards/game, 31 TDs, 15 INTs, 88.0 passer rating.
