The struggling Titans plunge into a rebuild by trading two starters for draft picks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans shortened the NFL trade deadline by starting to stock up on draft picks with two trades on Wednesday.

For a franchise stuck in a 1-5 start, more moves are likely. This is the Titans' worst start since 2015, which cost Ken Whisenhunt his job after he went 1-6 to open his second season. Tennessee could move to 1-6 after a game in Detroit (5-1) on Sunday.

Coach Brian Callahan could not comment on the plays, which had not yet been completed, when he spoke to reporters at midday. He called such moves the reality of NFL business and made it clear that it was not what the Titans expected after being among the league's biggest spenders in free agency.

“It’s part of our life in the league,” Callahan said. “And when you get to those turning points in the season, things like that happen. “I mean, it's usually because you're in the position we're in.”

The Titans traded three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City early Wednesday. Tennessee will reportedly pay a portion of Hopkins' salary, with the conditional fifth-round pick becoming a fourth if the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six seasons.

They then traded their second-leading tackler, linebacker Ernest Jones Jr., to Seattle for linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick.

This ended a short stay in Tennessee for Jones, who was traded from the Rams to the Titans at the end of August and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Jones led the Rams in tackles last season and was their defensive signal caller in 2023. Jones started five of his six games with Tennessee.

Trading Jones alone gives the Titans a fourth-round pick in April and a sixth-rounder in 2026, along with Baker at the expense of a fifth-rounder in 2026. Baker, 27, has started 87 of his 99 games and signed a one-year deal with Seattle in March.

Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jeffery Simmons said he didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Hopkins, so he contacted him via FaceTime. Jones was in a defensive meeting this morning but did not attend a walk-through before practice.

“We lost two good players today,” Simmons said.

The current moves give the Titans eight picks for next April's NFL Draft, and this start puts them on track for the franchise's highest draft selection since 2017, when they made Corey Davis the first wide receiver taken at No. 5 finished in the overall ranking.

Callahan said they are working to win as many games as possible in a season in which he has made it clear the Titans want to get a real evaluation from second-year quarterback Will Levis.

The Titans coach also said he was leaning toward scratching Levis for a second straight game to further heal the quarterback's throwing shoulder after Levis sprained his right AC joint on Sept. 30. Levis started the next game after a bye for the team, but threw for only 95 yards in a loss to the Colts.

Levis normally speaks to reporters on Wednesday, and both Levis and Mason Rudolph will speak on Thursday instead.

Other tradeable assets include 2021 Pro Bowl linebacker Harold Landry, who has four sacks in six starts and has one out on his contract after this season.

The Titans are in the final week of evaluating whether to add rookie linebacker Cedric Gray to the active roster. The fourth-round pick from North Carolina began the season as a reserve player with an injured shoulder.

Callahan said it's the front office's job to look to the future. For the coaches and players, victory is now their only goal.

“There’s still a locker room full of guys down here that play hard and play for each other, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Callahan said. “So opportunities will arise again and the boys have to take advantage of them.”

Injury update

OT Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring), WR Calvin Ridley (foot) and CB L'Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) did not practice. Levis was limited along with RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring).

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed.