Examining Titans Quarterback Situation Now, And For The Future

Today we dive into the Tennessee Titans quarterback situation and share some scenarios that could impact the team now and in the future.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - Exactly what the Tennessee Titans quarterback situation will look like this season and in the near future is open to speculation and guesswork. Still, honestly, no one knows for sure.  

Currently, the team has Ryan Tannehill as their veteran starter, with second-year pro-Malik Willis as his backup. They could add a third quarterback later this month during the NFL Draft, but these two are on today's roster for now. 

There is a chance that Tannehill could be traded, and some speculation about him possibly being released. Likewise, there is a trade rumor for Willis, so there are no guarantees that either will be with the team on opening day, though it seems improbable both would be moved. 

The Titans have done their due diligence on the current draft-eligible crop of quarterbacks. There's speculation the Titans could be in the market to trade up in the draft to secure one of the top four available quarterbacks in Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis. 

If the Titans do make such a move up and select a quarterback in round one, there becomes a chance that player could start in week one, though they would compete with whoever might remain on the roster between Tannehill and Willis or Trey Lance if the Willis trade rumors are true.     

There are several schools of thought on the upcoming season if the Titans miss out on one of this year's top signal-callers. 

One is that if Tannehill starts, the team will be good enough to win some games but be out of the running for one of the top two projected quarterbacks in 2024, Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.     

Along that same line, if the Titans were to move Tannehill and give Willis the keys to the offense, he would either sink, and the team could be bad enough to be in a position to grab one of those two top-rated players next season, or he swims and proves to the team's future at the position.   

However, who would be the backup if Tannehill is moved and Willis takes the reigns? 

Likewise, if the Titans trade Willis for Lance and release Tannehill, who would back him up in '23?

While it is likely that both Young and Stroud will be gone, even if the Titans were to trade up to No.3, do general manager Ran Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel believe in either Richardson or Levis as the guy to hitch their futures to as the team's franchise quarterback. 

That's one of, if not the biggest unknown in this whole process. Then there's the impact of the potential draft capital it would take to move up the draft board when the team has so many other needs those picks could be used to fill.   

It has been suggested the Titans should "tank" this season to ensure their place at the top of the draft next season, where Williams, Maye, or another potential target would await.  

That idea is tough to swallow for guys like Vrabel and Carthon, who both played in this league and are ultra-competitive personalities. 

There is no simple solution here, regardless of the team's direction. Grabbing a quarterback this season doesn't guarantee that individual will turn into the franchise quarterback this team has been searching for since Steve McNair. 

Missing on a quarterback, as we've seen with both Vince Young and Jake Locker, can set the franchise back years. 

Passing on one this year, only to see that player turn into that star for another team, is equally as challenging.  

I don't envy Carthon and Vrabel and the decision in front of them, but I and others in the media will be here to dissect their decision and remind them of it if they choose incorrectly.   

Whatever happens, this will be a pivotal point in the Titans future for the next three to four years as the team either improve with the right guy under center or struggles until they find the "next" quarterback of their future. 

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