For the second NFL offseason in a row, the Tennessee Titans find themselves in an advantageous position in the draft. In 2015, the Titans held the second-overall selection and the key to quarterback Marcus Mariota. They likely entertained any number of trade offers from the teams below them desperate to acquire Mariota, but in the end, chose to stay put and select their quarterback of the future. And while fans of the Titans surely aren't happy to know that landing Mariota in 2015 or the first-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft required going 2-14 and 3-13 in back-to-back seasons, Tennessee again find themselves dealing from a position of strength.
And while the Titans could very well stay put as they did last year and select the top player on their board - likely Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil - it sure sounds like trade interest in the first pick of the first round is starting to pick up.
"I would say that with each day we inch closer to the draft, the discussions probably become a little bit more serious, if you will," Titans GM Jon Robinson said. "That's something we're going back and forth with. Do we stay put with where we're at, or do we really entertain the thought of moving?
"I would say the interest has increased some. I wouldn't say there are 31 teams calling, but there are certainly teams that have interest in moving up."
For Robinson and the rest of the Titans decision-makers, it will probably take a hefty trade up offer to convince them not to stay put and select Tunsil.
Yes, the Titans have plenty of roster holes and would do well to add further draft ammunition via trade, but securing Tunsil, who may be the only truly "elite" tackle in this draft, both adds talent to an offensive line that's sorely in need of it and shores up the protection for Mariota.
Of course, the Titans aren't exactly spending a pretty penny on their offensive line and Tunsil's draft position would only mean another $5 or $6 million in annual salary, so it's a small price to pay to ensure that DeMarco Murray becomes a productive presence and Mariota remains upright and healthy.
But if a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, who are said to be enamored with a quarterback like Carson Wentz, was willing to offer say, the No. 8 pick, another pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and an early pick next year, the Titans and Robinson would need to think long and hard about forfeiting the rights to Tunsil.
The Titans could certainly use the Ole Miss mauler, but they're not one player away from contending.
All that's left for Tennessee to decide is whether picking up the further draft ammo presumably being offered to them is worth missing out on a surefire talent like Tunsil.
