Why the Titans are not likely to be overly active as deadline approaches

Safety Amani Hooker (37) was not likely to be moved at the trade deadline, despite some reported inquiries about his availability. ANGIE FLATT

With the trade deadline looming on Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans, as TitanInsider.com reported last week, are not in fire sale mode.

There is still the chance a player or two could be moved if a team overwhelms the Titans with an offer, but general manager Mike Borgonzi does not appear to be intent on moving players for more draft capital, even those on expiring contracts.

Coach Robert Saleh reiterated that approach Monday, saying the Titans are not expected to make moves but never say never.

“We’ve all been in the profession long enough, we’re going to approach our jobs the best we can and if our names are called, it’s called,” Saleh said. “But as far as communication, I think Borgo (Mike Borgonzi) is doing a great job communicating with the entire building, communicating with players, communicating with agents, communicating with Amy (Adams Strunk), and if something pops up that’s unforeseen, then so be it. But as of now, we are operating as if the team that’s here today will be the team that shows up on Sunday.”

And here is a big reason why. Yes, the Titans are 1-7, and the key to a rebuild in football is to accumulate lots of first- and second-day draft picks to select talented players and develop them. Yes, all draft picks are a roll of the dice. But the deeper into the draft you go, the bigger the odds are that the gamble hits.

The Titans have already made their big move when they traded Jeffery Simmons for two first-round picks in the next two drafts.

Of the remaining players on the Titans roster, almost none of them would fetch a first- or second-day pick. For instance, running back Tony Pollard has been a player whose name has been bantered around in trade rumors, as Pollard is on an expiring contract, and has put together back-to-back 100-yard rushing games just before the bye. Pollard might bring a third-round pick from a desperate team, if he wasn’t on an expiring contract. But the fact that he can be a free agent in March limits how much a contending team that might want him for beyond just half a season would be willing to pay for him.

Football is different from baseball where a team in a fire sale situation will sell off players at the deadline because they have minor league prospects they want to look at and develop. A team that swaps its veteran third baseman might have his replacement ready at Triple-A.

Whereas in football, trading for draft choices, of course, means the players won’t be on the roster until after the season. There aren’t many ready replacements lingering on the practice squad, which is usually a mix of fringe prospects teams hope will develop and veteran stop-gaps who get added to the roster in the event of injuries.

With Pollard, the thought is that he is the Titans’ bellcow back, and the run game is needed to continue to get a fair assessment of quarterback Cam Ward’s play over the final eight games of the season.

Behind Pollard, the Titans have only the oft-injured Tyjae Spears and mostly unproven or journeymen players. Still, Saleh said Monday he feels good about the depth at the position, despite the lack of production behind Pollard.

“Feel good about our backs. I know Tyj (Tyjae Spears) has been ailing a little bit, but Tony (Pollard) and Michael Carter’s done a really nice job stepping up in there. Nick Singleton’s still getting better, you still have (Kalel) Mullings who’s on the practice squad who I think can provide some added depth, but I like where we’re at running back wise,” Saleh said. 

Another name on offense that has been mentioned in potential trades is receiver Calvin Ridley, who showed up in the news for a different reason on Sunday night when WKRN Channel 2 reported that Ridley had been involved in an incident at the Metro Nashville Airport over the weekend. AtoZ Sports reported Monday that the incident involved a valet attendant losing the ticket to Ridley’s car that he was attempting to retrieve.

Ridley has had a disappointing season thus far coming off a leg injury that cost him half the 2025 season. He has just six catches on 13 targets this year and has had a couple of key drops. What all that adds up to is that Ridley won’t bring much in return, if anything, at the trade deadline.

As for safety Amani Hooker, sources indicate he is not likely to be on the move either. Hooker has five interceptions this season, including three in the Titans’ previous game in Cincinnati. Hooker is having a fabulous and rejuvenating season, and there are teams in contention that would love to pry him away from the Titans. But again, safety is not considered a premium position and likely wouldn’t bring enough back in return. Remember, a few years ago, Kevin Byard only brought two third-day picks, which was considered a high yield for a safety.

Roster moves

The Titans placed linebacker James Williams (groin) on injured reserve Monday and activated linebacker Dorian Mausi from IR.

Additionally, the Titans brought back linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo to the practice squad and let go of defensive back Derrick Canteen.