It's Not Just Drafting A Quarterback; It's Getting It Right

The quarterbacks will undoubtedly control the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, as multiple teams are jockeying for the position to be able to draft one of the top four prospects.

Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal and USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - There's no debating that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. You either have a franchise quarterback, or you're searching for one. 

Such is the case for the Tennessee Titans and multiple other franchises who are either in position or considering a move up the draft board to acquire one.  

Still, it's not as simple as drafting someone and immediately solving your problem in that position.

For every Peyton Manning, or Patrick Mahomes, there's a Ryan Leaf, or Mitchell Trubisky, who was as highly regarded entering their respective draft processes, but in the end, failed to live up to expectations.  

While I did not crunch the numbers, it's fair to say that for all the greatest quarterbacks in league history, there's more than double that amount who have failed to live up to their draft status. 

The Titans are a perfect example of this, having spent multiple first-round picks on Vince Young and Jake Locker, both can't-miss prospects who had their moments in Nashville but never lived up to what the franchise envisioned from them when they were selected.  

Once again, in 2023, the Titans find themselves in the market for a long-term solution at quarterback as they try to replace an aging Ryan Tannehill and his big contract.  

Currently sitting at No.11, the rumor mill has reported that the Titans have spoken with Arizona about the cost of trading up to the No.3 position to put themselves in a place to draft one of the top four quarterback prospects in this class.     

Everyone is entitled to their opinions; mine is no better than the next person's. Still, to me, this seems like a bad idea, and bad ideas are what got Jon Robinson and those others who occupied the general manager's chair before him fired when their bad decisions didn't work out. 

Conventional wisdom says that either Bryce Young or CJ Stroud will be the first player taken by Carolina, followed by the other taken at No.2 by Houston, thus leaving Anthony Richardson or Will Levis for the Titans at No.3.  

I know it pays to go with the "Hot Takes" but I am torn on ARich.

I see the high floor.

I see the high ceiling.

I think he is 75% likely to only be at his floor.

It likely means he won't be awful, but far from worth Top 10 pick.

But I understand the high range of outcomes. https://t.co/cjn9iUXWlX

— Shane P. Hallam (@ShanePHallam) April 3, 2023

No, I'm not saying if things play out as described, that whoever the Titans might select at No.3 would flame out. I can't predict that, but there is enough information to make me feel that the two likely candidates who would be left on the board at No.3 are far riskier than this team can afford, given the potential cost of the move up to gain that spot.  

 Richardson, who is by far the most gifted athlete of the bunch, and Levis, who has a big body and strong arm, are both considered projects in that neither is ready to step into the starting role on day one. While this is not a bad thing considering the Titans still have Tannehill, there is a possibility that he could be dealt during or after the draft to clear much-needed cap room. 

Starting the season with either Richardson or Levis as their quarterback, with an untested roster around them, doesn't seem like a recipe for success when neither of these quarterbacks showed in college that they could guide their teams to the top of the college ranks.      

Now some might argue that Young and Stroud only took their teams to the College Football Playoffs because of the wealth of talent around them, which is true. But even with the skill around them, they still played their role at a higher level than the other two quarterbacks.  

In the end, the Titans will make a move they feel is right for them, but to me, giving up any draft pick this year, or in the coming years when there are so many holes in this roster, seems a wrong decision. It should be avoided unless something I missed shows that one of these two is the second coming of Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes.

This is a critical time for this franchise because making another mistake here will set this franchise back three or four more years.

It's Not Just Drafting A Quarterback; It's Getting It Right. 

Titans Related Stories

The Cost Of Trading For Hopkins, Still Too Steep For Titans: It's not about what the trade will cost; it's about the $19.45 million in his contract that the team would be adding to its books. CLICK HERE 

All Cardinals Reporting Hopkins Could Be Released: It's not definite, but sources around the league feel that if Arizona can't trade DeAndre Hopkins, he could be released. CLICK HERE  

Titans Stuck In Tough Cap Situation As Draft Approaches: According to the most recent figures from Over The Cap, the Titans don't currently have enough cash to sign their incoming draft class unless some moves are made to clear more space. CLICK HERE