The Tennessee Titans stayed mostly quiet during the trade frenzy leading up to the 2025 NFL trade deadline. While they did make a couple of moves, they never entered fire-sale mode, a move that disappointed some in the fan base. 

With the moves, Tennessee traded away slot cornerback Roger McCreary to the Los Angeles Rams and edge Dre’Mont Jones to the Baltimore Ravens to add some valuable picks to their draft capital ahead of the 2026 NFL draft. The trades do make some sense from an organizational perspective, given that both players were on expiring contracts. With no guarantee they will remain with the Titans long term, receiving compensation now will help general manager Mike Borgonzi during the rebuild.

There is no doubt that these moves will impact Tennessee in the short term. Both players held key roles on an already struggling defense, and coordinator Dennard Wilson will have to get creative to replace them. But will their loss outweigh the long-term gain? That’s the question ESPN’s Seth Walder took on when he graded the moves at the trade deadline. 

Here is his breakdown of the Titans’ moves. 

Titans trade edge rusher Jones to Ravens

Ravens get: Edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones

Titans get: Conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

Ravens’ grade: B-

Titans’ grade: B+

I was skeptical when the Titans signed Jones to a one-year, $8.5 million deal this offseason. He has been a bit better than expected in Tennessee, racking up 4.5 sacks, up from 4.0 last season. That’s even more impressive considering how often the Titans are behind, which reduces pass-rush opportunities. His pass rush win rate at edge has ticked up from 10.5% last season to 11.6% this season. But that number is still below average for an edge rusher (he ranks 31st out of 49 edge rushers in pass rush win rate), and his pressure rate tells a similar story.

I thought the Ravens might aim a little higher. A reunion with Calais Campbell could have been an option (perhaps it still is) if the team wanted a better player a little more inside. Another option would have been Jones’ former teammate, Arden Key, whom I would prefer from a pure pass-rushing standpoint. Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could have been a swing-for-the-fences option, albeit a risky one. Ultimately, Baltimore needed to make a move and Jones fills the need. I’m just not sure if he moves the needle.

This is a logical move for the Titans. They’re going nowhere in 2025 and are currently sitting on $108.6 million in cap space in 2026, per OverTheCap.com, so it’s unlikely that Tennessee will receive compensatory picks for departing free agents. They need to deal as many players on expiring contracts — and then consider moves for others — for as much draft capital as they can acquire.

Jones has come on, recording sacks in four straight games and being the most consistent edge player on the roster. His loss will hurt, but picking up draft capital for him after only nine games in Nashville is a win. Especially after seeing the conditions that make the potential for a fourth-round pick look more promising. 

Titans trade CB McCreary to Rams

Rams get: CB Roger McCreary, conditional 2026 sixth-round pick

Titans get: Conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

Rams’ grade: B+

Titans’ grade: B-

Moving the fourth-year corner was an easy choice for the Titans. Not only is Tennessee well out of contention and McCreary is in the last year of his rookie contract, but the Titans also have so much cap space next year (almost $113 million, per OverTheCap.com — more than any other team) that they are likely to be spenders in free agency and therefore less likely to receive compensatory picks for lost free agents than most teams. Therefore, it’s better for them to get whatever draft capital they can through trades for players who won’t be around next season.

The draft pick compensation after the pick swap works out to roughly an early sixth-rounder, by our draft pick valuations. It strikes me as a shade lighter than I would have expected, considering there are other teams likely to be in the cornerback market between now and next Tuesday. That’s why it’s worthwhile for the Rams to make a move like this — secondary depth is good when you’re trying to make a run! If I were Tennessee, I might have held out until next week to see if a better offer came in, but I wouldn’t expect to get that much more.

The Titans’ moving McCreary the week before the deadline was a bit of a surprise, but it does appear that the compensation was on par for a slot corner in this market. McCreary is a solid cornerback, and his loss will hurt, but it will also give the front office a chance to look at some young cornerbacks and see if there is an answer on the roster. 

Although not specifically moved near the trading deadline, the Titans did move on from cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. early in a season in a move that is still considered a headscratcher by some in and around the organization. With Tennessee struggling with cornerback depth, moving on from a talented young player was and remains surprising. 

That isn’t just for those in Nashville, either. Rich Cimini of ESPN had the same thoughts as well when he broke down the deal in September. 

Titans trade CB Brownlee to Jets

Jets get: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., 2026 seventh-round pickTitans get: 2026 sixth-round pick

Jets’ grade: A-Titans’ grade: C

Brownlee, a 2024 fifth-round pick (146th overall) by the Titans, started 17 games for Tennessee as a rookie last season. He started the first two games this year before an ankle injury kept him from playing in Week 3. Brownlee suffered the injury during practice last Thursday and was in a walking boot over the weekend.

In 19 games, Brownlee has 92 tackles, 10 passes defended and 1 interception. Brownlee is known for his aggressive coverage that at times costs him penalties. He was flagged 14 times for a total of 57 yards last season. Brownlee has been called for illegal contact, a 16-yard pass interference and a 15-yard face mask in two games this season.

The reason Tennessee moved on from Brownlee remains a bit of a mystery outside of the organization, and that fact continues to be brought up. Currently, Tennessee is struggling with cornerback depth, and Brownlee is playing at a high level for the Jets.