Titans could contact old friend to find franchise QB
Former Tennessee Titans executive and current Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is open to trading the third overall pick.
The Tennessee Titans are taking nothing off the table when it comes to their 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. A legitimate case could be made for Tennessee to trade back to stack future assets, stay put and take the best player available, or even trade up and select the team's next franchise quarterback.
Trading up with the Chicago Bears and jumping 10 spots to number one overall does not seem feasible, though. Chicago will also be receiving phone calls from the Houston Texans, picking 2nd and 12th, and the Indianapolis Colts, picking 4th, among other teams. In order for Tennessee to make that large of a leap in the draft order (and convince the Bears to move out of the top four), it would take a king's ransom.
But what if Tennessee had a way of moving up to get their quarterback without needing to get Chicago on board?
Former Titans executive Monti Ossenfort was hired as the new General Manager of the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason, and after Ossenfort's recent comments from the NFL combine, it may be in Tennessee's best interest to make a call to their old friend.
Ossenfort told the media on Tuesday that he is keeping an open mind when it comes to the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and that he would entertain any calls from teams looking to move up in the draft order.
"It's a position that I hope we're not in too many more years," said Ossenfort. "It's one of those that presents an opportunity that there's going to be a good player there for us to take at number three, so we'll be prepared to pick a player at number three. Also, our phone will be open and I'm open to hearing any conversation about anybody that's willing to come up.
"It's an opportunity to add a player, it's an opportunity to get some calls on that pick, and ultimately, we'll make the best decision for us at the time," the Cardinals' GM continued.
All things considered, Ossenfort inherited a mess in Arizona. The Cardinals have quarterback Kyler Murray, who tore his ACL in December, locked up for five years to the tune of $230.5 million. Meanwhile, star WR DeAndre Hopkins is expected to be traded, J.J. Watt retired, Hollywood Brown will soon be due for a pay day, and the team somehow still went 4-13 in 2022.
The one nice thing Ossenfort did inherit, however, was options in the draft.
Arizona could use a defensive boost. The Cardinals' pass rush was 24th in the league in sacks, with 36 last season, but even that number included 12.5 from a now retired Watt and 5.5 from unrestricted free agent Zach Allen. By staying at number three, Arizona could draft Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter, likely as the first defensive player off the board, and completely revamp their defensive front.
By trading the pick, the Cardinals could stack later selections in this year's draft and look to begin their rebuild with an overhaul of young, cheap talent.
For the Titans, it may not cost the same premium that trading with Chicago would, and Ossenfort's already established relationships within the Titans' organization could be good for negotiating.
The question is: Is it even worth moving up for a quarterback if you'll be stuck with the third one drafted, potentially picking behind both the Colts and Texans? An interesting premise nonetheless.
Feature Image via Tennessee Titans on YouTube
