Realistic Draft Trade Possibilities for Tennessee Titans

As of right now, the Tennessee Titans hold the second overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft, but that might not be the case for very long.

After all, trades have become more common than ever in the draft since the collective bargaining agreement was signed in 2011.

With Jameis Winston as the consensus choice for the first overall pick, that just leaves one first-round quarterback in Marcus Mariota. The Titans could use a quarterback, but they aren't the only team in need of one and have said that they have faith in Zach Mettenberger, so the trade rumors have been flying.

So with which teams might the Titans trade, and what can they expect to get? More importantly, which of these potential trades has any real chance of happening, and which are just smokescreens? Read on for my take on the popular trade rumors.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall for Philip Rivers

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

I'll start with the biggest rumor out there.

Much has been made of this rumored trade, and on paper it makes sense. The Chargers could be moving, Rivers hasn't signed an extension and Ken Whisenhunt's last job was working with Rivers.

That said, I feel pretty confident that the chances of this trade happening are almost zero.

First of all, the trade doesn't make much sense for the Titans if they do like Mariota enough to take him at No. 2 overall. If the front office thinks he's a long-term starter, then there'd be no reason to surrender him for a quarterback who will be 34 before the season.

There's every indication that the Titans really like Mariota, per Peter King of MMQB, so I don't see the trade making sense for them.

Furthermore, the Titans' roster is full of holes at every position. Rivers would probably be enough to let the team limp into the playoffs, but they wouldn't be serious Super Bowl contenders before Rivers started to decline.

On the other side, the Chargers have had Rivers as their quarterback for a decade and seem to want to keep their first-round pick after trading for him, per Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego. Rivers is a sure thing and keeps them in playoff contention. No one's on the hot seat, and so far all indications that Rivers won't sign an extension are speculative.

The trade doesn't really make sense for either side, so I'd be floored if it happened.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall to Browns for Pick Nos. 12, 19 and Later Rounds

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

This is a trade proposal that I kind of like, or at least a trade I could see happening.

The Browns just spent a first-rounder on Johnny Manziel, but he's busted hard and fast already, and although it's rare to see a team give up on a quarterback after a year, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the Browns seem to be going in that direction on the Mike & Mike radio show (via SB Nation).

Cleveland also has a lot of trade ammunition. It has a solid roster, minus the quarterback spot, and having two first-round picks doesn't hurt things.

The Titans are full of holes, so two firsts would allow them to address more needs than just the quarterback spot.

However, moving down 11 spots is a big downgrade, and the Titans would probably want more than just those two picks. That's where the trade breaks down.

The Browns won't want to give up both first-rounders and a second-round pick. That would drastically cut their ability to find talent, and even though they have a strong roster, they aren't just a quarterback away from competing for Super Bowls.

I could see the Titans maybe taking two firsts and a third, but the Browns are unlikely to want to part with what it would take to move up so far.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall to Eagles for Sam Bradford and Multiple Picks

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Chip Kelly moving up to reunite with his college quarterback is a great storyline, which is why this rumor is so rampant. But as many pointed out early in the process, the Eagles just don't have the ammunition to move up 18 spots, per Andrew Kulp of CSN Philly.

Trading for Sam Bradford, who doesn't fit Kelly's offense, may signal that they have plans to make a trade of some kind. But even if Bradford was part of the deal, the Eagles would need to give up several future picks to move up to No. 2 overall.

Then there's the question of if the Titans would want Bradford at all. Despite going first overall in 2010, Bradford hasn't given much of an indication on the field that he's a franchise guy. He also spends a lot of time sidelined with injuries, and that kind of thing burned the Titans recently with Jake Locker.

The Eagles could move up, but only after surrendering enough picks or players to essentially mortgage their future. Such a move seems unlikely for one player when the Eagles look like they'll be regular playoff contenders as they are, even if it is Kelly's old quarterback.

This rumor is more a product of fans wanting it to be true than thinking it could be true.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall to Rams for No. 10 and Future Picks

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The trade partner that makes the most sense for Tennessee is probably the St. Louis Rams. The Rams just rid themselves of Sam Bradford and picked up additional picks in the process.

Furthermore, the Rams are absolutely stacked with talent. With a dominant defensive line, a young group of talented receivers, a stable of running backs and an experienced head coach, the Rams look like they're a quarterback away from giving the Seahawks a run for their money.

Maybe they found their quarterback in Nick Foles, but if they don't think he's the answer, few teams in the NFL are in a better position to give up picks than the Rams. They have so few needs that the picks wouldn't be sorely missed.

Most of the trade talk has dealt with the Chargers, but if I were a betting man and had to put money on one team to be a trade partner with Tennessee, I'd put it all on St. Louis.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall to Jets for No. 6 and Day 2 Picks

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

The Jets are an intriguing trade partner because they don't have to move up that far to get to No. 2. At No. 6 overall, there will still be at least one player that would be a big upgrade for the Titans.

Like most of the other teams on this list, the Jets need a quarterback, and of all the Titans' potential trade partners, they're the closest to the No. 2 pick already, so they wouldn't have to give up as much to move up.

They also have a new front office with no connections to current quarterback Geno Smith, so there's no reason they wouldn't cut ties.

Still, to move up they'd need to either give the Titans several later picks, or a future pick, and the Jets have a lot of holes. They have a great front seven, but other than that, they have needs other than quarterback they'll have to address to be ready to compete.

Giving up most of their draft for a quarterback would handicap them quite a bit, but maybe not to the point that it would be prohibitive.

Of course, what they're willing to give up and what pieces the Titans would want to allow them to move up could be very different. Still, a trade with the Jets is one of the more plausible trade scenarios out there.

Titans Trade No. 2 Overall to Bears for Jay Cutler, No. 7 Overall and More

Jim Mone/Associated Press

I don't think the Titans have any interest in Jay Cutler. That said, I could see Cutler being an ancillary part of a deal more than the real meat of it. But that would mean the Bears surrender enough picks to move up to second overall and then just throw in Cutler on the side.

They'd still have to give up most of their draft or mortgage the future. Neither of which new coach John Fox is likely to want to do.

If the Bears wanted to move up, they'd need to package a lot of picks along with Cutler. Cutler has been injured or ineffective for much of the last few years; he seems like an unhealthy locker room presence and he's not getting any younger.

I'll call the chances of this one happening slim to none.