Tyler's Take: Titans Should Not Be Enticed to Make Preseason Trades

The Tennessee Titans may be enticed to make a preseason trade, but as they have seen in the past, those rarely turn out as good deals for the team.

The Tennessee Titans sit a week away from NFL cutdown day on August 29. As they assess their roster, they may consider making a trade to fill a need, but with the history and the alternative options, they should not be doing any deals.

Look at the Titans' recent history of preseason trades. Just last year, the Titans lost a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick in 2024's draft for offensive tackle Dennis Daley and cornerback Ugo Amadi, respectively. They did get a seventh-rounder back in both trades with each player though, but hardly worth it.

They also traded a conditional seventh-round pick for defensive back Tyree Gillespie last preseason and he didn't make the team. The Titans are unlikely to give up the pick due to Gillespie not making the roster, but the point here is the trade did not work out.

In 2019, the Titans traded a sixth rounder in 2020's draft for outside linebacker Reggie Gilbert. Gilbert stuck with the team, but only played in 11 games while putting up just one sack and 22 tackles. The juice was not worth the squeeze.

Look, one thing that must be said here is these trades were done by former general manager Jon Robinson and who knows if new general manager Ran Carthon will have similar results, but there is one other important factor here too.

NFL trades are likely to trickle in this week and next as front offices begin to figure out how they will assemble their 53-man rosters.

There has not been a single trade yet since all 32 teams have been at camp. pic.twitter.com/c8OkheSIer

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 21, 2023

The NFL has changed the way rosters are cutdown this year. Instead of three gradual cutdowns after each preseason week, there is one large cutdown day, August 29, where 32 rosters will go from 90 players to 53 players. 

Quick math tells us that up to 1,184 players will become available by August 30. Even if we fall short of that number due to injured reserved entries and other roster mechanics, there will still be a large pool to draw from if the Titans want to add new players.

There are likely position groups on other teams that are so chock full of talent that one of their cuts is better than what the Titans have on the backend of certain positions. There is no need to make a trade between now and then.

Yes, a trade ensures you get the player that you want. If he is waived, another team could claim him or if he goes unclaimed, maybe he decides to sign elsewhere. Those are the risks, but the Titans currently only have five picks in the 2024 NFL draft because of the Daley, Amadi and Will Levis trades.

The Titans only have their first rounder, second rounder, fourth rounder and three seventh rounders in 2024's draft.

This team may have improved, but the roster still lacks depth and will have even more holes by next offseason. They simply can't afford to sacrifice anymore draft capital in 2024 or beyond on trades without a history of success. 

Stick to your roster or let your pro scouts do their job and find someone after cutdown day who doesn't cost you picks. It's the history and the viable alternative paths that make a preseason trade something the Titans should avoid.

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