Music City Miracles
Which QB will the Tennessee Titans target this offseason?
The Will Levis era may have ended for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The sophomore quarterback was benched after committing four turnovers in a lopsided loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Mason Rudolph entered the game after Levis threw a terrible pick six to Bengals safety Geno Stone. Zac Taylor’s club converted those four turnovers into 24 points.
And for the first time this campaign, head coach Brian Callahan is noncommittal regarding Levis’ status for the upcoming contest against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. Callahan plans to assess the situation before making a decision about the starting quarterback. There’s an excellent chance Rudolph starts the final three games.
Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon are under immense pressure from a disappointed fan base. Owner Amy Adams Strunk is aware of discontent while building a multi-billion dollar stadium next door. Callahan and Carthon likely possess a leash long enough to get another offseason of roster revamping, but they’ll likely feel forced to replace Levis this summer.
Unfortunately for them, the class of quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft is a lackluster one. Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are the consensus top-ranked QBs. They both have flaws and are unlikely to make it past the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants anyway. The class got weaker when Penn State’s Drew Allar announced his intention to return to school for the 2025 campaign.
Mid-round options include Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Georgia’s Carson Beck. Ewers and Beck entered the season as potential No. 1 overall picks. Neither signal caller has met expectations and barring a massive College Football Playoff, both inconsistent quarterbacks are trending as mid-round selections.
The free agency class is equally as muddy. Veteran Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is easily the prize possession slated to be available. Darnold has enjoyed a resurgent year. Minnesota has a difficult decision to make with first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings.
Darnold will certainly command a multi-year contract potentially worth upwards of $40 million per season. The Titans will have to weigh that cost while facing competition from other suitors. The Vikings have an excellent situation in place around Darnold from an offensive line and wide receiver perspective. Tennessee may not be able to duplicate that.
Alternative options may include Justin Fields, re-signing Rudolph, or Jameis Winston. Carthon and Callahan may not love any of these available quarterbacks, but is running Levis back even realistic? Not if they’re trying to sell tickets and avoid the hot seat. With patience running thin, Carthon and Callahan will be tasked with finding a creative solution at QB this offseason.
It should lead to a fascinating offseason.
