Titans’ Roger McCreary Trade Highlights Ongoing Dysfunction in Tennessee

To find another example of the Titans making little sense with how they’re putting together their team, look no further than September, when they traded cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Many believed a locker room issue was at the heart of the trade when it first happened, as Brownlee had played solid football in Tennessee during his season and a half with the team, and was on a cheap rookie deal.

Brownlee’s reaction to the trade told a different story, however. According to Jets reporter Zack Rosenblatt, Brownlee was “surprised” by the Titans’ trading him, saying he was hurt when he found out.

Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals perfectly illustrates Brownlee’s impact in New York. On 4th and 9 in a do-or-die situation, where the Bengals only need to get into field goal range, who makes the game-winning PBU? The player Tennessee traded away for almost nothing.

If you need another example of the Titans trading away one of their best young players, go back to 2022, when Tennessee traded star receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th and 101st overall picks in that year’s draft.

After the deal was finalized, Brown told ESPN’s Turron Davenport that he wanted to stay, but the Titans’ offer was “low.”

Instead, Tennessee used the 18th pick to select Treylon Burks, whom they waived earlier this season after he broke his collarbone during training camp. Burks recorded 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown over his three seasons with Tennessee.

Brown, on the other hand, was a key part of the Eagles winning a Super Bowl this past season, and has made two Pro Bowls and three second-team All-Pros since he was moved.

The issue with the Titans' strategy isn’t necessarily trading Brown; it's that they did it without a plan. Instead of picking a clear direction, they tried to operate with a foot in both worlds, which led to where they are now—searching for a new head coach (again), trading away promising young talent for unclear reasons (again), and quickly plummeting toward another year at the bottom of the league (again).

If dysfunction is their identity, at least they’re consistent.