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The Tennessee Titans were poised to make a splash in the 2023 NFL Draft, with reports indicating they were trying to trade up to the third overall pick to select Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
However, their plans were thwarted by their divisional rivals, the Houston Texans, who surprised some by selecting Stroud with the second overall pick.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Titans were looking to move up to the third spot, which was owned by the Arizona Cardinals at the time. However, the Texans’ decision to select Stroud at number two caused the Titans to abandon their pursuit of a trade: “They dropped out of the bidding.”
Update: #Titans were attempting to trade up to the 3rd overall pick for QB C.J. Stroud in the 2023 Draft prior to the #Texans taking him 2nd overall.
Once Houston picked Stroud, Titans "dropped out of the bidding" for the trade, per @AlbertBreer
Now Titans face him twice a year pic.twitter.com/YLv0hcBcA3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 3, 2023
The Texans, meanwhile, were able to use their newfound leverage to negotiate a deal with the Cardinals and secure the third overall pick. With that pick, they selected Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, giving their defense a much-needed boost.
For the Titans, the failed trade means they will now face Stroud twice a year in the highly competitive AFC South division. The Ohio State product was widely considered the top quarterback in this year’s draft class and was expected to have an immediate impact in the league.
The Tennessee Titans, who finished with a 7-10 record last season, ended up picking Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in the second round of the Draft in hopes he’ll be their quarterback of the future.
The NFL Draft is always filled with surprises, and this year was no exception. While the Tennessee Titans may have missed out on their top target, they will now have to regroup and find a way to overcome the challenge posed by Stroud and the Texans in the years to come.