Tennessee Titans Roster Rundown: Quarterbacks

It's time to go through the current roster of the Tennessee Titans, and we start with the quarterbacks.

Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - As the 2023 NFL season draws closer, it's time to begin our run-through of the Tennessee Titans roster, starting with one of the most talked about position groups on this team, the quarterbacks. 

THE PLAYERS

Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Will Levis  

Starter: Tannehill is the guy, at least to begin the season. However, two possibilities could change this. 

1) Injury- Should Tannehill become injured, it would cause the next man up into the starter's role. 

2) A Bad Start- Should the Titans begin the season poorly, struggling to win out of the gate, at some point, head coach Mike Vrabel could decide it's time to see what he has in either of his two young quarterbacks. 

Backup Scenario: As of now, there are two, and in the end, I feel both will be on the Titans 53-man roster when the wheels go up on the team's plane to New Orleans.   

Recently a story began circulating that Willis might not be on this roster when the season starts. Yes, that's certainly a possibility, and if there is to be a quarterback jettisoned, it's almost assured it would be him. Still, I don't believe he won't be here this season. 

Why do I feel Willis remains?

He's a former third-round draft pick who has, through the offseason program, shown improvement in his play. If the Titans want to get rid of him, it would most likely be through trade. At the same time, I don't foresee a market for that, and given the new emergency quarterback rule and after last season's ending with Joshua Dobbs becoming the starter for the final two games, I have a sneaking suspicion that Vrabel will want to avoid that possibility this time around.  

The Backup- Willis: If the season began today, despite what some might tell you, and based on what we witnessed during OTAs and minicamp, it's Willis. He outperformed Levis, and remember that Vrabel himself listed Willis as the No. 2 and Levis as the No. 3 immediately following the draft. The offseason program didn't appear to change that, at least on the field.   

Emergency Quarterback- Levis: As of today, Monday, July 10, it's the rookie. Remember that, most considered, Levis would need some time to work, learn, and grow into the role before being given the keys to the car. That still applies, and considering some of the struggles we witnessed in the early practices, it seems those considerations remain. 

Final Thought: Of course, I could be wrong here, but my feeling is that Willis remains, and I'm sticking to it until proven wrong.     

Tannehill is the starter, and Willis and Levis will continue to compete into training camp and likely into the season, where the No.2 position could change hands weekly, depending on how each performs during practice.   

Titans Related Stories

• 'HALF OF THEM' DON'T KNOW VRABEL PLAYED IN THE NFL: In a recent Titans podcast, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel joked that half of his current players didn't even know he played in the NFL or caught a touchdown pass.  CLICK HERE  
• MY INAUGURAL ALL-TIME ALL-TITANS TEAM: OFFENSIVE EDITION: Here's my personal all-time, all-Titans team for the franchise since it arrived in Nashville.  CLICK HERE   
• MY INAUGURAL ALL-TIME ALL-TITANS TEAM: DEFENSIVE EDITION: Here's my personal all-time, all-Titans team for the franchise since it arrived in Nashville.  CLICK HERE