Titans players discuss talk of 'tanking' with top draft pick in reach

Per Turron Davenport of ESPN, the 3-13 Tennessee Titans could "earn" the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft if they lose to the 9-7 Houston Texans and if the 3-13 New England Patriots earn an upset win over the 13-3 Buffalo Bills this coming Sunday. 

However, that doesn't mean Tennessee players are thinking about punting on the Week 18 game versus the Texans with the upcoming draft in mind. 

"I would tell any coach or (general manager) that told me they'd sit me so we can tank and get a higher draft pick to get me out of here," Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons told Davenport. "I don't want to be a part of no tanking situation."

In January 2023, the regime running the Texans at that time was blasted for a two-point conversion that earned the club a Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts that cost Houston the right to make quarterback Bryce Young the first pick of that year's draft. The Texans ultimately landed C.J. Stroud with choice No. 2, and he went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

More recently, the Patriots and New York Giants are among the clubs that have been accused of "tanking" during the ongoing season. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is one NFL insider who thinks the league could one day at least consider embracing a draft lottery similar to what's done in the NBA to prevent teams from potentially pursuing losses late in campaigns. 

"Tank for what? They don't know how good the guy is going to be," Titans receiver Tyler Boyd told Davenport. "One guy isn't going to fix all your problems and your record."

The Titans seemingly no longer view 2023 second-round draft pick Will Levis as a long-term franchise quarterback and, thus, could look to acquire Miami starter Cam Ward or Colorado star signal-caller Shedeur Sanders this spring. For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller wrote that he "wouldn't be comfortable calling [Ward and Sanders] first-round prospects based on this season's tape" but realizes that "it's a safe bet that both get drafted in the top five selections." 

Simmons insisted that he is "not here to lose games" regardless of what such a mindset could mean for the future of the organization. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Titans as one-point underdogs against a Texans side that is locked into the AFC's No. 4 seed.