The Patriots are preparing for another road game this week, as they head to Tennessee to face the Titans in hopes of continuing their win streak before heading back to Foxboro. It will be the first time Mike Vrabel faces his former team since they fired him after the 2023 season, and things just got a whole lot more interesting now that they fired his replacement.
The announcement was made on Monday afternoon that the Titans fired Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start to the 2025 season. This comes after finishing last year with a 3-14 record, proving even further that forcing Vrabel out was a bad idea.
But that also creates a massive opportunity for the Patriots to potentially take advantage of. Other than stealing a win on the road against a head coach-less team, they might be able to inquire about a few trade candidates that the Titans might be willing to let go of, as they likely undergo a makeover from top to bottom.
The most obvious player continues to be defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who very much enjoyed playing for Vrabel since he was drafted.
You can’t sit here and tell me Jeffery Simmons doesn’t want to join the #Patriots and work with all of his favorite coaches… pic.twitter.com/AJvJCll7nT
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) January 25, 2025
And based on his most recent comments about playing in Tennessee, he might be willing to move on, too.
The Patriots might want to inquire about some Titans players' availability after Brian Callahan's departure
With any midseason head coach firing, trade rumors are bound to follow, as the organization has made it clear they are ready for significant changes to their team. That could include trading away some of their best players, which the Titans could do with Simmons, and the Patriots should be on the phone.
They have a solid defensive tackle duo with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, but neither is the best pass rusher. That's not exactly their job, but Simmons could fill that role, having recorded 4.5 sacks already this season and coming off another Pro Bowl year in 2024.
#Titans DT Jeffery Simmons said this after Sunday's loss and it carried a lot of water in Tennessee and ultimately on HC Brian Callahan:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 13, 2025
"It started at practice. Just being honest? This was probably one of our worst weeks of practice."
(via @BuckReising)pic.twitter.com/oQUUNcZ3hj https://t.co/qDo0HRDd1w
The Titans might not be willing to budge, in general, but also not with a team that is now led by their former head coach.
However, that shouldn't stop the Patriots from getting on the phone and, at the very least, kicking the tires about anyone's trade availability. The Titans will want to build around their presumed franchise quarterback, Cam Ward, who they drafted first overall earlier this year, so moving on from defensive stars might be the way to get some more trade picks on the docket.
That could certainly work to the Patriots' favor, for the right price. They need help on their defensive line, and adding Simmons to the duo of Barmore and Williams seems like a no-brainer.