As the Tennessee Titans head into the 2024 season, their main focus is figuring out if quarterback Will Levis, a second-round pick in 2023, is the long-term answer for the franchise.
Levis showed promise during his rookie year, but it was still unclear if he could be the solution. Now, after seven games this season, the outlook isn’t positive.
Levis has struggled and appears to be far from the player we saw last year. He has made numerous mistakes, contributing to the Titans’ 1-6 record, which suggests they may need to look for another quarterback in 2025.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes the Titans might start this search as early as 2024. He predicts they will trade for a young quarterback who is currently struggling, allowing that player to audition for a potential job in 2025.
Some quarterbacks Knox mentions include Zach Wilson from the Denver Broncos, Trey Lance from the Dallas Cowboys, Bryce Young from the Carolina Panthers, and Mac Jones from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tennessee needs to find a future quarterback, and Mason Rudolph isn’t a long-term option. Looking for a quarterback in the 2025 draft makes sense, but general manager Ran Carthon might not wait until spring to add someone.
However, trading for any of the quarterbacks Knox suggests may not make sense. They are all similar to Levis and offer only slight improvements at best.
Wilson, Young, Jones, and Lance have not demonstrated enough to be considered long-term solutions, so it would be illogical for a rebuilding team like the Titans to invest draft picks in them.
Additionally, Wilson, Lance, and Jones won’t be under contract in 2025, meaning they won’t be guaranteed to stay in Nashville next year.
Young has at least two more years left on his contract, making him the most logical target for Tennessee. Still, there’s little evidence to suggest he can be a quality NFL starter, and he would likely face similar challenges in Tennessee as he does now.
In the end, the Titans might be better off sticking with Levis for the rest of the season. If he continues to struggle, Tennessee will be in a strong position to draft a top quarterback next year, currently holding the No. 2 pick according to Tankathon.
