Yeah this really feels to me like they're saying to teams come with your best offers and lets do business. If they had any kind of conviction on Ward they would do what the Bengals did in 2020 and say they have no plans on trading the 1st overall. Can't pass on a potential franchise QB, especially a franchise like the Titans that have been starved for good qb play since Steve McNair
If the Saints have already made an offer and Titans declined, then historically the Saints are done making offers and have moved on. That is what some sports influencers are saying has happened. Only the Saints and Titans know for sure.
Another historical tendency of the Saints, they don't get into bidding wars with multiple teams. They make their opening bid and sometimes increase it a little, but they don't get caught up in bidding wars. If the Titans turn it into a multiple team bidding war, the Saints will likely sit it out.
The Saints might be using deceit to try to start an early QB run to push other player(s) down to them or within reach of a less expensive trade up.