With real football still weeks away, now is the time for bold predictions and fun hypotheticals. For the Tennessee Titans, one such prediction came from Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, and it could be more realistic-- and mutually beneficial-- than it may seem initially. In his list of bold predictions for training camp, Moton lists a few potential roster moves and position battle outcomes for multiple teams, but the one that would catch the eye of Titans fans involves the Green Bay Packers trading fourth-year wideout Romeo Doubs to Tennessee.
A move such as this could make sense for both teams; the Titans should be trying to surround Cam Ward with as much talent as possible, and the Packers' WR room is getting crowded lately. Of course, the Tennessee front office and fanbase should be rightfully wary of trading for a WR (*cough* Robert Woods), despite the apparent need (*cough again* Julio Jones). However, there is a new GM in town, and there are more reasons to like this potential deal than to doubt it.
Why the Titans should make the deal
As of now, the Titans' WR group primarily consists of Calvin Ridley, two fourth-round rookies, two past-their-prime free agent additions, and some soon-to-be practice squad members. Oh yeah, and I think Treylon Burks is still there, for what that's worth. Chig Okonkwo has shown flashes from the tight end position, and the rookies definitely have potential, but aside from Ridley, defenses have little to worry about from a pass-catcher standpoint.
That is far from an ideal situation for the young quarterback you are hoping to build your franchise around. Borgonzi, Brinker, and Co. did the right thing by prioritizing the offensive line and not committing long-term salary cap space to skill position players just yet. However, if they could add a receiver of Doubs' quality (who is still on his rookie deal) to go alongside Ridley, it could make Ward's rookie experience much more productive and the Tennessee offense much more explosive.
Why the Packers should make the deal
From a pass-catcher standpoint, the Packers are on the opposite end of the spectrum from Tennessee. Last year, they had a number of talented, young wideouts who contributed to their success offensively and helped the growth of quarterback Jordan Love. From one game to the next, it would be impossible to guess whether Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, or tight end Tucker Kraft would be Love's go-to guy. That made them versatile and hard for defensive coordinators to gameplan against.
However, while any or all of those players could make meaningful contributions in any given game, none emerged as the true number one receiver that all teams covet. In hopes of remedying this, Green Bay broke from their long-standing tradition and drafted wide receiver Matthew Golden out of Texas (who has all the traits of a number one guy in the NFL) in the first round this year. While Golden could prove to be the type of playmaker Green Bay has been missing since Davante Adams, it makes the WR room a bit crowded.
Golden's presence now makes Doubs, Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks all viable trade candidates. Watson's injury history could make him more difficult to move, and Reed still has more time to emerge and develop with two years left on his rookie deal. This leaves Doubs, who was suspended for one game last year for missing practice, reportedly due to frustrations with his role in the offense. That role is likely to decrease even more with Golden in town and Watson healthy.
Will it happen?
While it is all hypothetical at this point, a deal such as this makes for both teams. However, one major element that has not yet been discussed is the one thing that could prevent it: the price tag. A mid-round pick seems about right for Doubs, given his production, age, and contract. Being on the final year of his rookie deal, he should be more motivated than ever to prove his value (either to the Titans or another team in free agency, which could bring back a compensatory pick). On the other hand, his suspension last year could hint toward the dreaded diva tendencies, which could decrease his value.
As previously mentioned, the Titans have some rough recent history in acquiring Julio Jones (who was rarely healthy in Nashville) and Robert Woods (who contributed little once outside the Sean McVay offense) via trades. And that is without even mentioning the horrendous AJ Brown trade which catapulted the Eagles to Super Bowl contention and effectively ended an era in Tennessee.
While all of these deals happened under a different front office than the one currently in power, their memories still linger. However, mistakes of previous regimes should not prevent the current one from making a deal that could immediately upgrade the offense, provide a legitimate weapon on the other side of Ridley, and further the development of our rookie franchise quarterback.