The Tennessee Titans were among the NFL's clearest sellers before Tuesday's trade deadline, and national analysts mostly liked how Tennessee handled it.
The Titans made two major moves. On Oct. 29, they traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for 2027 first- and fourth-round picks plus a 2028 first-rounder. On Tuesday, they sent safety Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a 2027 second-round pick.
In Yahoo Sports' grades for all 32 teams, Frank Schwab wrote that "it hurts to trade Jeffery Simmons away," but said the reality is that Tennessee is a one-win team and Simmons is 29 and might not still be great when the Titans turn the corner. Getting two first-round picks back was "good business for a rebuilding team," he wrote, and turning Hooker's hot start into a second-round pick was "great."
CBS Sports, in its deadline grades, focused on Buffalo's side of the Hooker deal, calling it expensive but worth it for a Bills secondary that needed help. CBS noted Hooker has five interceptions this season, including three against Cincinnati's Joe Burrow in one game, while other Bills safeties had one combined.
The Simmons deal also drew attention. Yahoo said it is possible the trade will be remembered as the most impactful of the 2026 cycle after Simmons took over in his first game with the Bears.
The moves leave the Titans with plenty of draft capital. According to the team, Tennessee now holds two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. Running back Tony Pollard and receiver Calvin Ridley were mentioned in trade talk but stayed put.
The question now is how quickly the Titans can turn those picks into players around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Tennessee, 1-7 under first-year coach Robert Saleh, returns from its bye to host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Sources: Yahoo Sports; CBS Sports; Tennessee Titans; Sports Illustrated