Leading up to the 2022 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans will have an important decision to make: whether or not to trade their first-round selection.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson will go into April’s draft with the following picks:
- Round 1
- Round 3
- Round 4
- Round 4 (projected comp pick)
- Round 5
- Round 6
- Round 6 (projected comp pick)
A key selection missing is a second-round pick, which was sent to the Atlanta Falcons as part of the Julio Jones trade.
Since Robinson has taken over as general manager, the Titans’ success rate with first-round picks has been a mixed bag. Jeffery Simmons has been the best of the bunch, but only three of Robinson’s seven first-round selections remain on the roster.
Jack Conklin, Corey Davis, Adoree’ Jackson, and Isaiah Wilson are all no longer with the team, and there’s also the real possibility that the Titans let 2018 first-rounder Rashaan Evans walk in the offseason as well.
Aside from Kevin Dodd in 2016, Robinson has been more successful in finding key contributors in the second round.
The list of players includes Kristian Fulton, A.J. Brown, Harold Landry and Derrick Henry. The jury is still out on Dillon Radunz, who could end up having a starting role in 2022 if all goes well.
With the No. 26 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Titans have many options with the selection. They can grab some help along the offensive line, add a much-needed tight-end, or even potentially grab their quarterback for the future.
There isn’t really a clear choice to go with the pick, and if there isn’t anyone the Titans like in that spot, they should consider trading it away to a team looking to move into the first round.
In that scenario, the Titans would net a second-round pick, while also quite possibly adding to or improving their stable of picks.
For example, look at teams like the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers. All three are set to be watching on Day 1 of the draft thanks to not having a first-round pick.
Chicago could be a really interesting trade partner, given they hold an early second-round pick (No. 39 overall). New Bears general manager Ryan Poles could look to make a splash to follow through on his promise of taking over the NFC North and never giving it back.
The Seahawks aren’t far behind the Bears with the 41st overall pick, but their willingness to move up in the draft could be predicated on what happens with quarterback Russell Wilson.
At any rate, the Titans are in a good spot to trade out of the first round, where Robinson has struggled, and into a good spot in the second round, where he has found more success. And, an extra pick or improved selection later in the draft wouldn’t hurt, either.
