How far back in NFL draft order can Tennessee Titans trade and still pick top-tier prospect?
In this week's NFL mock draft from The Tennessean, the Tennessee Titans trade back from No. 7 to No. 13 and still pick Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, adding a third-round pick and a future first-rounder in the process.
A whole lot has to go right for the Titans to make this kind of move. Namely, they need one of the draft's top-four quarterbacks to fall to No. 7 and for one of the three quarterback-needy teams picking No. 11 to No. 13 to be motivated to move up. Any other scenario, the Titans either move too far back or don't get enough to justify the risk of missing a top-10 talent.
But the good news for the Titans is there's a nice gap between their pick at No. 7 and the New Orleans Saints' pick at No. 14, where there aren't that many teams primarily thinking tackle. So theoretically, if Alt falls to the Titans at No. 7, there's a way to play things where the Titans can make him fall even further.
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Let's take a look at the team picking after the Titans and examine just how far they can trade back and still snag Alt.
Pick No. 8: Atlanta Falcons
Tackles: Jake Matthews, 32, contract through 2026; Kaleb McGary, 29, contract through 2025
Top needs, per ESPN: WR, DE/OLB, CB
Would they pick Alt? Matthews has a lot of mileage on his legs, and the Falcons will have to replace him eventually. But no, tackle doesn't seem to be one of Atlanta's top priorities.
Pick No. 9: Chicago Bears
Tackles: Braxton Jones, 25, contract through 2025; Darnell Wright, 22, contract through 2027
Top needs, per ESPN: QB, WR, EDGE
Would they pick Alt? Assuming the Bears take quarterback Caleb Williams first, tackle probably slots in as their third-biggest need. Jones played well as a rookie in 2022 and Wright was Chicago's first-round pick last year, but it's plausible the Bears could look for an upgrade. The issues at defensive end are more pronounced, though.
Pick No. 10: New York Jets
Tackles: Tyron Smith, 33, contract through 2024; Morgan Moses, 33, contract through 2024
Top needs, per ESPN: OT, WR, S
Would they pick Alt? Well, this depends. Are the Jets building for the future or trying to win in the short term? If it's the former, yes, the Jets are certainly a team that could and should be interested in picking Alt. If it's the latter, the Jets signed two veterans on one-year deals to play tackle for a reason. Sticking with the veterans, picking a receiver or tight end and letting Aaron Rodgers do his thing in the short term is a viable plan, even if it might not be best for the Jets after 2025.
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Pick No. 11: Minnesota Vikings
Tackles: Christian Darrisaw, 24, contract through 2025; Brian O'Neill, 28, contract through 2026
Top needs, per ESPN: QB, CB, DT
Would they pick Alt? Alt is a Minnesota native, so sentimentality could come into play. But realistically, no, the Vikings are set at both tackle spots.
Pick No. 12: Denver Broncos
Tackles: Garett Bolles, 31, contract through 2024; Mike McGlinchey, 29, contract through 2027
Top needs, per ESPN: QB, CB, DE/OLB
Would they pick Alt? Denver could be looking for Bolles' replacement before he hits free agency, but that's a bit of a luxury pick for a team that needs so much more.
Pick No. 13: Las Vegas Raiders
Tackles: Kolton Miller, 29, contract through 2025; Thayer Munford Jr., 24, contract through 2025
Top needs, per ESPN: QB, OT, CB
Would they pick Alt? This one's tough to say. Munford was solid last year, but he also logged time at guard in college and could bump inside if Alt's available. This might be a pick too far for the Titans to trade down, particularly if the Raiders miss out on all of the top quarterbacks. But the need at cornerback could be the Titans' saving grace, too.
So how far can Tennessee Titans trade down and get Joe Alt?
Nothing is ever really safe in the NFL draft. Teams can always trade in front of the Titans if they move back or go off script and pick the best player available over need. But if the teams picking after the Titans stick to their spots and pick according to their most pressing needs, there's no reason the Titans wouldn't be able to move back two or three spots at least and six spots at most to get their guy.
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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Should Tennessee Titans trade down in NFL draft? If so, how far back?
