In Tyler Rowland’s view, the Tennessee Titans’ ideal 2027 NFL Draft outcome would not begin with selecting a quarterback at No. 1 overall. The Locked On Titans host instead outlined a trade-down blueprint that would keep Tennessee positioned to land Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith while adding the premium capital needed to address several roster holes.
Rowland’s premise depends on Cam Ward continuing to show enough progress that the Titans can avoid using their top selection on a quarterback. Rowland said Ward’s performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 gave him reason to take a quarterback off the board in this scenario, with a veteran competitor serving as the more sensible offseason addition.
The proposed payoff would come through a quarterback-needy trade partner. Rowland identified the New York Jets as his preferred match, arguing that a move down from the top pick could give Tennessee enough ammunition to trade back up for Smith while retaining another premium selection. It is an aspirational scenario rather than a prediction, but it illustrates how the Titans could turn one elite asset into multiple foundational pieces.
Smith is the centerpiece because Rowland believes the Titans could add a true top-end offensive weapon without abandoning the rest of the rebuild. He ranked edge rusher as Tennessee’s top long-term need, followed by cornerback, offensive tackle and running back, making the additional draft capital central to his plan rather than a bonus.
That draft flexibility became more important after Tennessee’s Oct. 29 trade of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears. The Titans received first-round selections in 2027 and 2028, plus a 2027 fourth-round pick, while sending a 2028 fifth-rounder to Chicago. Those assets give the front office more paths to build around Ward than it had before the deal.
To Rowland, this sequence is the best-case scenario: Ward establishes himself, another team pays to move up for a quarterback and Tennessee uses the return to add Smith alongside help on the edge and in the secondary. Ward’s second-half development could determine whether that route becomes reality.
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