Should The Titans Have Paid the Price For The First Pick In The 2023 Draft

The Carolina Panthers have reportedly made a deal with the Chicago Bears to jump to the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. It was a bundle, but will it be worth it, and should the Tennessee Titans have paid it?

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - A late-breaking report from Adam Shecfter on Friday afternoon indicates that the Carolina Panthers have reached a deal with the Chicago Bears to trade multiple picks and a player to the Bears in exchange for the No.1 pick in April's NFL Draft.  

Per Schefter's report, Carolina is sending their first-round pick, No.9 along with their No.61 pick, plus a first-round choice in 2024 and a second round selection in 2025 along with wide receiver DJ Moore, in exchange for the Bear's No.1 pick.  

Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:

🏈pick No. 9
🏈pick No. 61
🏈a first-round pick in 2024
🏈a second-round pick in 2025
🏈WR DJ Moore pic.twitter.com/hHrHn1UIR2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2023

There's no doubt that's a hefty price to pay for the Panthers to move to the top, presumably for the chance to select one of the top two quarterbacks in this class in CJ Stroud or Bryce Young. 

Almost immediately fans and media alike began commenting on the Titans and whether they should have paid the price for No.1.   

For the Titans, that price would likely have been the No.9 overall pick and the No.41 selection this season, plus the '24 first-rounder and '25 second rounder, with Derrick Henry as the player in the deal. 

Of the earliest social media returns, many fans and media feel the Titans should have taken the plunge and gone all in on their quarterback of the future. 

However, because the Titans have just six selections in this year's draft and so many holes to fill, this seems like too much to give up, even for the next "can't miss" rookie quarterback. 

Yes, the Titans need a quarterback of the future, but there are never guarantees attached to rookie first-rounders; as history has proven for this franchise with Vince Young and Jake Locker, the last two can't miss quarterback's that were supposed to set this team up for years to come. 

The silver lining is that Carolina gets their quarterback, and the Texans at No.2, likely taking the other. Indianapolis will have to choose between Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis, both of which aren't as highly regarded and not as NFL-ready as Stroud or Young.  

That said, it also eliminates any possibility that either of the top two might slide to the Titans. 

There's still a lot of time left before the Panthers officially go on the clock, but the most significant move of this draft has already been made.