Initially mentioned by NFL Network's top draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on his Move The Sticks podcast and later confirmed by Buck Reising and AtoZ Sports, the Tennessee Titans are exploring trading up for the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Arizona Cardinals currently have the third selection in the draft later this month, but new Cardinals GM (and former Titans executive) Monti Ossenfort has publicly stated that he is open to trading out of the spot. Arizona has no need for a quarterback, and while it may be tempting to stay at three and land the top defensive talent in the draft class, the opportunity to stack future assets in a trade down may be a better option for the Cardinals' long-term plans.

With the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans holding the first two picks, it's almost a guarantee that two of the top quarterbacks in this year's class will already be off the board by the time the third pick rolls around. So who could the Titans like that has prompted their interest in moving up?

It's hard to imagine a world where C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young are not the first two quarterbacks off the board. It's safe to say that Tennessee, and every other team considering jumping up in the draft, would not do so banking on one of those two guys to fall.

Any team trading up to third overall is doing so because they have fallen in love with another quarterback that they believe can be the next franchise guy. I'd keep my eyes on Kentucky's Will Levis and Florida's Anthony Richardson in that spot. 

Titans GM Ran Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel were both in Lexington last weekend and in attendance for Levis' Pro Day at Kentucky. Carthon returned to the University of Florida, his alma mater, this past week to get eyes on Richardson as well as other prospects while Vrabel was at the University of Tennessee.

Is Tennessee's representation at both Pro Days related to them exploring a move up in the draft? Probably not. They likely would have been present for those workouts regardless to check out any number of prospects. After all, the Titans are just kicking the tires on a potential deal and what a package would look like. It is worth noting, however, that the Titans have had ample opportunity to see every top quarterback up close at this point. 

Any quarterback-needy team should be doing due diligence on how they can acquire their franchise cornerstone. Until a deal actually gets made or extensive negotiations are reported, that's what I'd chalk this up as. 

Should a deal get done and the Titans pick third overall, though, it'll be because either Richardson or Levis has swept them off their feet. We'll find out just how impressed Tennessee is with those two QBs in the coming weeks.

Image via Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports