Doesn't Matter Whether It's Malik Willis or Will Levis, Titans Just Need a Franchise QB
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans wrapped up their four weeks of summer practices this week and will now take a long break until training camp starts on July 25. Two of the biggest talking points throughout the last four weeks have been the improvement of Malik Willis and the struggles of Will Levis.
Willis is going into his second year and some improvement from last season is expected. Levis is a rookie so a learning curve is to be expected. However, considering where both were drafted and their college experience, Willis outperforming Levis so obviously is a surprise.
Not only did the Titans draft Levis, but they traded future draft capital to go up and get him. They did all of that just one year after taking Willis in the third. If the Titans believed in Willis at all, they would not have spent so much to get Levis. It is that simple.
Willis was dealt a difficult hand in his rookie season. He had no experience with a pro-style offense or the wordy verbiage of an NFL playbook. A steeper learning curve than most rookie quarterbacks. Because of that, most acknowledged Willis needed a red-shirt season.
Willis didn't get that though. He was thrust into a starting role in three games. Willis got the opposite of support. The Titans had a terrible line, terrible pass catchers and a terrible offensive coordinator. Tannehill could barely win games with the help around him so how could Willis?
Regardless of the known factors, people, including the man writing this, wrote off Willis after he was benched for Josh Dobbs the last two weeks of the season. The assumption being Willis had too far to go to ever be a true starter in the NFL.
So, enter Levis. That is why there is so much pressure on Levis. Not only is he a rookie quarterback in the NFL, not only did he publicly fall to the second round, but the Titans also clearly wanted him instead of Malik, so there is immense pressure to beat out Willis for the backup spot.
Based on what we have seen in OTAs, that may not happen and some may look at that as a colossal failure for the Titans. You traded a pick in 2024 and moved up in 2023 to draft a quarterback who isn't better than the guy you drafted in the third round last year? Looks like gross mismanagement.
Here are two truths though, it doesn't matter who becomes the Titans quarterback of the future, as long as they find them and it is still too early to make those definitive statements.
It doesn't matter whether it is Willis or Levis or what was paid to obtain them. If one of them is "the guy," all will be forgotten. All that matters is finding them eventually. No matter what the process looks like.
Again though, it is not the time to make definitive statements either way. Training camp is six weeks away and we will get some real answers during that time and preseason games.
In the meantime, just remember, it doesn't matter who it is. As long as one of these passers ascend, the Titans are in a good spot.
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