The Tennessee Titans are 1-7 to open the year, they've already traded the best player on the team -- Jeffery Simmons -- to the Chicago Bears, and the NFL trade deadline selling may have only just begun.
This team is in a unique position, because it's not exactly in "fire sale" mode from the standpoint that they are blowing everything up. But the Simmons trade indicates they are closer to that mode than not. They are still very much in evaluation mode with the important pieces on this roster, and it starts with quarterback Cam Ward.
With the NFL trade deadline looming on November 10, the Titans are in a position right now to rack up some future assets. Here's everything you need to know before the deadline, including the most likely Titans players to be traded, the players they should hold onto, and what team's they should be calling.
Most likely Tennessee Titans players to be traded at the deadline
DE Jermaine Johnson II (expiring contract)
One of the first places you look on a roster that could be selling at the trade deadline is the "starters on expiring deals" section of the team.
Former Jets 1st-round pick Jermaine Johnson was part of the T'Vondre Sweat trade this offseason, and he's played just well enough to have some decent value here at the midseason point.
At 27 years old, Johnson could be exactly what a contending team is looking for. He's a half-year rental, he's shown flashes and streaks of nice productivity, and there's a relatively high ceiling compared to aging veterans who might be past the point of no return.
With 3 sacks, 6 QB hits, and 5 tackles for loss already this season, Johnson has matched the numbers he posted in 14 games a season ago.
LB Cody Barton (veteran LB help?)
Any team around the NFL needing help at the linebacker position should be calling the Titans about Cody Barton.
Barton is just 30 years old, and he still has two years remaining on his contract with the Titans. With base salaries of just over $6 million in 2026 and 2027, he's also kind of a bargain for the productivity he's capable of.
Rookie Anthony Hill Jr. looks like a stud and has played more snaps this season (by far) than any other defensive player on the Titans. Even though Barton is second on the team in snaps played at linebacker, Cedric Gray has also played a major role for this team, and had 164 tackles a season ago.
If there's one position the Titans can afford to move away from a starter right now, it's probably linebacker.
RB Tyjae Spears (expiring deal)
The Titans are definitely going to get calls about the running back position, but teams might not exactly be going after Tyjae Spears.
Still, given the fact that he's on the last year of his rookie contract, and given some of his past production, it's possible that he might be the one they end up being "most willing" to part with. There will more on Tony Pollard momentarily.
Spears has had at least 500 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three NFL seasons. He can provide value on all three downs for running back-needy teams who are on a budget.
Theoretical Titans trade chips that won't be moved before the deadline
RB Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard really finds himself stuck between two categories. The Titans don't need to trade him. They might be doing right by trading him. But also, Pollard's presence is really important to the continued development of Cam Ward.
This is a tough spot to be in.
With Pollard being on the last year of his contract in Tennessee, at the age of 29, it makes a lot of sense to take what they can get for him. This is a conflicting spot, because with Pollard being a very obvious rental, are the Titans going to get anything better than a 4th or 5th-round pick offered?
If they don't get offered better than a 5th, they might just be better off keeping Pollard. But teams will be calling. This is one of the most notable names at a position of need for many teams around the league, and if supply and demand dictates his value, Pollard could be on the move. But the Titans may not be shopping him around.
DE Jacob Martin
Jacob Martin has proven himself to be one of the most underrated and under-appreciated defensive players in the NFL in recent years.
All the guy does is produce.
He just turned 30 years old in 2026, and he's already played for a whopping 8 NFL teams. Hilariously, he's already played for 3/4 teams in the AFC South.
And teams will undoubtedly be interested in his services. He's got 6.5 sacks already this season along with 7 tackles for loss. Those are the best numbers of his career so far, and we're only 8 games into the season. He also has 14 QB hits, just 4 off his career-high as well.
Martin is playing the best ball of his NFL career, he's under contract through the end of the 2027 season, and his average salary is just $4.5 million. He's also great on special teams.
The Titans should absolutely not move him unless they get a fair offer for his production and price tag.
CB Alontae Taylor
Even though Alontae Taylor was benched, which will cause a lot of speculation that he could be traded, the Titans might have to be more forward-thinking with him.
Taylor plays much better out of the slot (as we saw recently), and this team couldn't fill all of its roster holes in one offseason. He was disastrous playing on the outside, but getting him back in his more natural position could help turn things around at some point.
Unless a team calls and makes an offer the Titans can't refuse, they shouldn't be looking to throw in the towel on this investment already.
Buyers the Tennessee Titans should be calling befort the deadline
Running back-needy teams (Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Bengals, Seahawks, etc.)
If the Titans are shopping players around, especially someone like Tony Pollard, they should be calling all of the teams in need at the running back position right now.
And there are a lot of those.
Any team whose name has been connected to Jonathan Taylor should have interest in Tony Pollard, and possibly at a fraction of the price Taylor would cost. The Titans could even diminish or eliminate the value the Colts would get in return for Taylor by striking a Tony Pollard trade sooner rather than later.
But again, that all depends on whether or not Tennessee is truly shopping Pollard as opposed to simply receiving calls about him.
Pass-rush needy teams (49ers, Cowboys, Bears, Bills)
There are always NFL teams looking for pass rush help, especially at the NFL trade deadline.
It would be a shocker if the Titans weren't getting calls constantly from teams interested in either Jermaine Johnson or Jacob Martin. After the Jeffery Simmons trade, we all know that the Titans are open for business, but that was a king's ransom type of offer that couldn't be refused.
As the season rolls along, teams realize they need as many weapons in the pass rush department as they can find.
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