Tanking isn't a thing that happens in the NFL, but Tennessee Titans fans need to hope that this franchise doesn't figure out how to win games over the next two months.
Most fans want to see their team win games, especially when you are trying to see signs of progress from a rookie quarterback. However, if fans could put aside the short-term pain and look at the bigger picture, they would see that draft position is going to decide how long this rebuild takes.
Matt Miller recently published a 2026 NFL Mock Draft, and he provides the perfect visualization of what it would mean if the Titans ended up with the first overall pick.
Titans trade back and invest in Cam Ward in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
In Miller's mock draft, the Titans trade the No. 1 overall pick to the New York Jets in exchange for the Nos. 4 and 28 picks, (the first-round pick they got from the Indianapolis Colts), and a second-round selection in 2027.
The Titans are going to lose any tie-breakers for draft position, so the fact that they only have one win instead of two is currently the difference between them picking first or sixth. They must continue to lose games until other teams start to pull themselves out of the basement of the NFL.
The Titans end up taking Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 4 overall. The math on the trade value chart won't change. Whether the Titans take a blue-chip EDGE, a dynamic receiver, or a hybrid defender with that top pick, it will be a huge upgrade at a position of need. After they make that choice, they will still have another first-round selection and the No. 33 pick to add even more premium talent.
No one will remember winning a meaningless game in December, but everyone will remember the draft where the Titans kicked their rebuild into overdrive and made this franchise fun to watch again. That is what is on the line over these next two months, so try to remember that when the team is struggling on Sundays.