NASHVILLE – With the 2024 NFL season beginning to take shape and many teams faced with difficult realities, trade season is officially underway around the league. 

The New York Jets acquired star wide receiver Davante Adams in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks added some depth on the defensive line, trading for veteran defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Amari Cooper was also traded to the Buffalo Bills and immediately put up 66 yards and a touchdown against the Titans on Sunday.

For teams with playoff expectations, it's not too early to jump the market and improve your roster. For those near the bottom of the standings (JAX, LVR, CLE), you could probably start fielding those phone calls inquiring about the availability of your top players.

The Tennessee Titans are sitting at 1-5 and the beginning of the 2024 season can only be described as a disaster. An organization that was Top 3 in free agent spending has issues all across the roster and struggles to do anything consistently well.

Despite head coach Brian Callahan being adamant that Tennessee is better than their record would suggest, the Titans are one of the worst teams in the NFL and their schedule isn't going to get any easier. No matter who is at quarterback, no matter who is healthy or injured, no matter what team is on the other sideline, the Titans don't win.

The Titans will most definitely be sellers at this year's trade deadline (November 5th), and given how quickly the market is moving, it wouldn't surprise me if GM Ran Carthon has already had some conversations about moving some guys.

But who might actually be available at the deadline? Here's a look at 10 Titans players who are going to be mentioned in trade talks this season and an update on their tradability. For each one, I am exploring the simple question: Will the Titans realistically have a buyer for ____ at the trade deadline?

---

1. WR DeAndre Hopkins – Yes

Leading up to the 2024 regular season, a contract extension for Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was a hot topic of conversation. Hopkins has been a marvelous fit in Nashville and the Titans organization, but his MCL injury in training camp delayed those negotiations.

With Tennessee struggling out of the gate, it now seems highly unlikely Hopkins would agree to an extension. The 32-year-old wide out is an unrestricted free agent next offseason and his expiring deal could easily get moved.

To be straight up, Hopkins deserves better than the Titans. I have no doubts about DHop's ability to still be productive in the NFL…but Tennessee's offense has really made game days for the future Hall of Famer a chore. Hopkins had one target and one catch for -2 yards against the Bills on Sunday. 

The receivers market is hot with Davante Adams and Amari Cooper already off the board. I expect contending teams to call about Hopkins. The question was always if the Titans were ready to move him or want him in two-tone blue as a means to develop second-year quarterback Will Levis…but that ship has sailed. Trade Hopkins.

---

2. WR Calvin Ridley – No

Calvin Ridley signed a four-year, $92 million deal with Tennessee in the offseason but only has 12 catches after six games in a Titans uniform.

Ridley has voiced his frustrations with the offensive game plan and his lack of targets…and I’m not sure anyone can blame him. The Titans use of Ridley has been puzzling.

While Ridley could definitely help any contending team, I doubt the Titans would have any interest in moving him given his contract status. I doubt anyone would even express interest considering how expensive Ridley is and his tendency to drop the ball that has plagued him over the last few weeks.

There is still around $40 million of dead cap space on Ridley's deal. His entire 2025 cap hit is fully guaranteed ($28 million) with some of those guarantees extending into 2026. He's staying put.

---

3. LB Ernest Jones IV – Yes

Just like DeAndre Hopkins, Ernest Jones IV is on an expiring contract and seems to be a likely candidate for trade this fall.

He was acquired by the Titans from the Rams ahead of the regular season and had an immediate impact. Jones is second on the team lead in tackles (44) and second on the team in pass breakups by non-defensive backs. 

Jones is a talented player and tremendous locker room leader that could be inserted into any championship defense and contribute. He also has playoff experience.

---

4. CB L'Jarius Sneed – No

I’ll put Sneed in the same boat as Calvin Ridley. The veteran cornerback was acquired in a deal from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a large extension with the Titans worth a total of $76.4 million.

But Sneed’s play in 2024 has not matched his salary. We also cannot forget the lingering knee issues that may or may not be a factor down the road.

Sneed is also now recovering more slowly tan expected from a quad injury. That kept him out against the Bills.

Early returns are not pointing to this being a good contract for Tennessee, and with over $50 million of the deal fully guaranteed, this isn't a trade I'd see a contender pursuing in the middle of the season. Sneed will remain a Titan.

---

5. DT Jeffery Simmons – Yes

Believe it or not, Jeffery Simmons is tradable for the Titans. I think he's someone that teams looking to make a big defensive splash will check in on. Is it worth it for Tennessee? That's a different debate entirely.

Trading Simmons would save the Titans about $8 million in cap space for 2025 and get him almost entirely off their books by 2026. But if you're a team looking to bolster your defensive line for the rest of 2024 and foreseeable future, Simmons could be worth giving up a haul.

Any team that trades for Simmons would owe him just under $1 million for every game played in 2024 and could retain his services in 2025 for $18 million. It's worth making a call if you're a buyer.

---

6. WR Treylon Burks – No

In theory, third-year wide receiver Treylon Burks would be easy to move. Burks is still on his rookie contract and with the writing on the wall for his fifth-year option to be declined, any buyer would have control of Burks through the end of 2025 at a cheap price.

He’s owed $2.6 million in base salary in 2025 and the Titans have already paid out his prorated signing bonus. But I still don’t think Tennessee is going to have a buyer for Burks. 

He is one of the least productive wide receivers in the NFL for the number of passing snaps he has played. A contending team would be acquiring Burks to open up the offense with his speed…but I don’t see a team giving up a pick of value for a decoy. It won’t be worth the Titans while.

Burks going to Injured Reserve last week all but sealed his fate that he will be with the Titans for the remainder of the season.

---

7. S Amani Hooker – Yes

Amani Hooker is certain to have suitors at the trade deadline. His contract is movable and he’s still an impactful addition to any defense.

If a team trades for Hooker, they’ll owe him around $385,000 for every game he plays with his new team. That team could theoretically cut Hooker in the offseason for free or opt to keep him and pay him a base salary of $7.79 million in 2025.

---

8. RB Tony Pollard – No

Tony Pollard has been even better for the 2024 Titans than his 400 rushing yards and three touchdowns would suggest. Pollard has been one of the only bright spots for Tennessee's offense and is one of the league's top running backs in yards after contact. 

The Titans' coaching staff and fanbase has to be pleased with what they've seen from the 27-year-old. Which is all the more reason why I don't think he'll be dealt or pursued much at the trade deadline.

$3 million of Pollard's 2025 salary is guaranteed. The Titans also have dead money from his contract extending throughout 2026, the end of Pollard's three-year contract. Running backs are not the most frequently traded assets to begin with, but given Pollard's contract control and the fact that keeping a strong running game is important to the Titans, I don't see how a trade here would make sense for either party.

---

9. OLB Arden Key – Yes

While Arden Key hasn't been very effective for the Titans this year (1 sack), he could still be attractive to a contending team looking to add a rotational outside linebacker for passing situations.

Key is likely to be cut after the 2024 season with his base salary scheduled to jump up to $6.5 million in 2025. But for this year, he would cost a buyer less than $100,000 per game . 

---

10. OLB Harold Landry III – Yes

Similar to Hooker, OLB Harold Landry III is going to be a player teams check in on.

Landry’s contract is structured close to Hooker’s and any team that trades for him would be paying him right around $1 million for every game he plays.

Landry is owed a base salary of $17.5 million in 2025 and 2026, giving a buyer options to keep him around longterm. Or the Titans may want Landry to themselves for that period of time…he has had a productive start to the season with four sacks in five games.

Titans offseason failure continues to plague them regardless of who’s playing QB

Titans are haunted by offseason failure.