NASHVILLE – Cam Ward to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall is a forgone conclusion ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. What the Titans do in Round 2 is where the real intrigue lies. 

Tennessee is currently holding the No. 35 pick in the draft. That's the third selection of the second round. Many believe the Titans are hoping to trade out of that slot a get an additional Top 100 selection before they go back on the clock at 103. 

There's no guarantee that the Titans will have a trade partner interested in moving up. Even if they did, that trade partner might not be offering something worth taking, especially if an esteemed wide receiver or edge rusher is on the board for Tennessee. 

But according to the latest draft notes from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the draft is currently setting up for the Titans to hit a jackpot in a trade thanks to the quarterback market. 

"There is a scenario in which Friday night could be more interesting and active for quarterbacks than Thursday night. If fewer quarterbacks are drafted in Round 1, Rounds 2 and 3 set up to be explosive," wrote Schefter on Monday. "Currently, the Browns are scheduled to hold pick No. 33, Friday night's opening selection. The Giants are next at No. 34, and the Saints are scheduled to pick No. 40 but already are making calls about trading up. In the eyes of some around the league, it's possible there could be more signal-callers selected in the first eight picks on Friday than there are in the 32 picks on Thursday."

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are first round locks, but let's just say that Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough do not hear their names called on Thursday night. That would leave three quarterback available for a number of QB-needy teams at the top of the second round. 

"There could be more signal-callers selected in the first eight picks on Friday than there are in the 32 picks on Thursday" leads me to believe that it is going to be an absolute bloodbath to start Round 2. If you didn't land a QB on Thursday, you better come and get your guy now…That sets the Titans up beautifully to capitalize on a team's desperation in a trade down. 

Could the Titans move back with the New Orleans Saints and trade No. 35 for No. 40 and No. 71? That's a steep price for the Saints to move up just five spots, but I don't think it's impossible if a quarterback they like is still hanging around on the board.

Tennessee would be rejoicing if they got an offer that looked like that. It would give them an opportunity to select a borderline first-round talent at 40 while simultaneously getting back the third-rounder they gave away for L'Jarius Sneed last year. It won't get much better than that.

Titans reach in the second round to pair Cam Ward with an old college teammate in recent NFL mock draft

Titans paid Cam Ward with former college teammate in recent NFL mock draft.