The Tennessee Titans are going to select former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is a foregone conclusion. Part of what makes the draft fun though is fantasizing about the possibilities, even ones that qualify as unrealistic.
Sports Illustrated recently published one of the wildest scenarios you'll encounter where all 32 first-round picks are traded. That's certainly a unique departure from your typical first-round mock draft. With the Titans having to trade the top overall selection in this exercise, they flip the pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Nos. 2, 33, 67, 104, and 200 overall.
Titans trade No. 1 pick to Browns in proposed swap from SI
"Tennessee has to relinquish the opportunity to draft Ward, but also gets a bunch of draft picks to give it 12 total in the draft, including six in the top 105," Matt Verderame writes. "As for the Browns, they get Ward, who they hope will finally answer the never-ending question of franchise quarterback in Cleveland."
At No. 2 overall, the Titans select Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the consensus best overall player in the draft. Hunter would play two positions of need in Tennessee.
"The Titans receive a boatload of draft capital and move back just one spot," Verderame continues. "Instead of taking a quarterback, Tennessee takes the best player in the draft. Hunter can play on either side of the ball and at positions Tennessee desperately needs to upgrade. It’s a great start for general manager Mike Borgonzi."
Perhaps the Titans would have considered such a swap before they had an opportunity to fall in love with Ward throughout the pre-draft process. The Titans aren't interested in trading the No. 1 pick after meeting with Ward on four occasions, via the NFL Combine, his pre-draft visit, Pro Day, and private workout, the latter of which saw team owner Amy Adams Strunk fly the private jet to attend.
The Titans once discussed wanting to load up on draft capital earlier this offseason. Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker previously mentioned acquiring as many future top 100 selections as possible. Trading this year's No. 1 selection could have helped the Titans achieve that goal. Instead, they'll be drafting Ward, who they've assessed to be a legitimate franchise quarterback.
You take the quarterback over extra draft capital every time.