Titans secure second-round pick in Amani Hooker trade

The Tennessee Titans now hold five of the first 66 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft following a trade executed on Tuesday. The team sent safety Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick. As team records stand through Week 9, Tennessee will select at Nos. 2, 30, 35, 64 and 66. The pick at No. 30 comes from Chicago, while No. 66 is part of the deal with Buffalo.

The Tankathon website values the Titans' 2027 draft capital at 1,318.2 points. This places the team second in the league behind the New York Jets, who hold nine picks valued at 1,535.0 points. The Titans will also have nine overall selections in the 2027 draft.

Hooker, 28, spent all eight of his seasons in Tennessee after being drafted in the fourth round in 2019. He tied his career high with five interceptions in seven games this season. He picked off Cincinnati's Joe Burrow three times during the 43-36 overtime loss on Nov. 1. The safety had been named a team captain on Oct. 29. That designation came after the team traded defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to Chicago for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.

Hooker departs with 17 career interceptions, the fifth-highest total for the franchise since 1999. The Titans are currently 1-7. Through eight games, the defense ranks 31st against the pass and 22nd against the run. The unit allows an average of 24.9 points per game.

The trade frees the team from Hooker's salary of $10.2 million in 2027 and $13.5 million in 2028, according to ESPN. The Titans kept veteran running back Tony Pollard, who is expected to help second-year quarterback Cam Ward develop. Tony Adams is likely to start alongside Kevin Winston Jr. in Hooker's absence. Terrell Burgess is on the 53-man roster, while Isaiah Oliver and Erick Hallett II are on the practice squad.

Coach Robert Saleh discussed the safety depth on Monday, the day before the trade. "I think we have four guys that we're very comfortable with," Saleh said. "We've also got a couple of guys on the practice squad. But depth in the NFL … I don't think there's many teams in the league who can stand up here and say, 'We have a laundry list of guys at any position.' I think we're all battling with who we have on our roster. But I can tell you, we're very comfortable with those guys."