Not seeing their Will Levis plan work out, the Titans have to chart a path to finding a better option. The team has an interesting dilemma, holding the No. 1 overall pick in a draft not flush with QB talent. In fact, teams may be determining only one passer will be worth taking near the top of the first round.
As Cam Ward continues to build a lead on Shedeur Sanders for the slot as this draft’s top quarterback, the Titans first must determine how much they want to spend on a free agent. Which way Tennessee goes in free agency could determine if it wants a first-round quarterback, as rumblings about the team being eager to move out of No. 1 persist.
[RELATED: Titans Doing Deep Dive On QB Prospects]
Several teams could use at least a bridge quarterback, but Sam Darnold may be eyeing a fit that goes beyond well-paid stopgap. The Titans are believed to have interest in Darnold, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Turron Davenport, but at a price. The team wants the Vikings Pro Bowler at around $30MM per year, but may not be interested in going beyond that range. Pointing further to the Titans setting a price on Darnold, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes the team should be expected to bow out if the market becomes too extreme. Baker Mayfield‘s $33MM-per-year contract surfaced as a potential Darnold zone, though the cap having climbed by $24MM may make that more of a floor.
PFR’s No. 1 free agent of the 2025 class, Darnold is going into his age-28 season. The former top-three pick did not receive a Vikings franchise tag, and while Minnesota is interested in retaining him at a rate south of the $40.2MM tag, leaving him unattached opens the door to an exit. As the Vikings remain committed to J.J. McCarthy, Darnold could bolt for a situation that does not feature an immediate challenger. Of course, he would have no way of being certain — as Kirk Cousins learned last year — the team he signs with will not immediately draft a QB. Though, the Falcons’ situation — where a $90MM QB guarantee preceded a top-10 draftee at the position — was historically rare.
Options like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and perhaps Cousins — if the Falcons relent on their current stance to keep him as a backup — would be cheaper than Darnold, but the Titans having interest is notable, as it adds another known suitor for a player who has been connected to the Vikings, Giants, Raiders and Browns. Where the bidding goes will be one of this offseason’s defining storylines, as Tennessee ending up with Darnold could influence them to draft Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at No. 1.
The Titans have received trade offers, with the Giants being the team most closely connected to a move up. Given the lack of prospect firepower in this draft, Fowler and Davenport doubt a future first-rounder would be required in a 3-to-1 move for New York. Ward has support in the Titans’ building, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. This could be a smokescreen aimed at bringing the Giants to offer more for the pick, but we will not have a clearer outlook on the Titans’ QB plans until after the initial free agency blitz next week.
While the team is still deciding its draft plan, Fowler and Davenport indicate Ward would be the likely pick as of now. The team believed the Miami prospect checked all the boxes during his Combine meeting, though his upcoming visit and pro day will be more telling. Team president Chad Brinker was at November’s Miami-Georgia Tech game, however. Ward, Sanders and Carter are visiting this week, while Fowler and Davenport adds Hunter’s Nashville trip is postponed to later this month.
Neither Ward nor Sanders have wowed as prospects, despite the former’s momentum. Ranking all the 2020s first-round QBs as prospects, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller slotted Ward 18th (behind last year’s sixth QB drafted, Bo Nix) and Sanders 20th — ahead of only Kenny Pickett. Scouts at the Combine believe Ward has separated from Sanders, per SNY’s Connor Hughes, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline adding the Colorado prospect’s perceived lack of improvement — along with the baggage the second-generation NFL prospect brings — has hurt his stock.
We have heard for a while this is a down QB draft and that a Ward-over-Sanders preference was forming, but if a gap grows between the two QBs, a club desperate to land Ward may increase its offer to the Titans for No. 1. No surprise prospect is expected to leapfrog the four frontrunners for No. 1, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds. If the Titans stay at 1, they would choose Ward, Sanders, Hunter or Carter. That elevates the importance of the March “30” visits.
New GM Mike Borgonzi was in Kansas City when the team held the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. In a down QB draft, the Chiefs instead traded two second-rounders to the 49ers for Alex Smith. Reid’s first Kansas City starter stayed five seasons, with the Chiefs trading up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The Chiefs chose Eric Fisher first overall in 2013, building around Smith for a while.
Borgonzi and Brinker would have the chance to take a similar route if they chose Carter or Hunter at 1 after signing a veteran. Ward’s status throws a wrench into that plan, as no 2013 passer rivaled where Ward is as a prospect. The Titans’ decision next week will represent an important part of this year’s pre-draft process.
If the Titans go with a veteran-rookie two-fer this year, Levis’ future with the team may be in doubt. Two years remain on the disappointing second-rounder’s deal. Levis’ backup/replacement, Mason Rudolph, is a free agent once again. The Titans are open to bringing back the ex-Steeler, Borgonzi said at the Combine. Rudolph signed a one-year, $2.87MM deal last year and would be unlikely to fetch much more than that this year.
Titans need to trade back twice
Three times would be even better if they could get someone to make them an offer for their clueless owner.
Titans should trade back with Giants (1 for 3) and get a third rounder this year and a third next year, which makes up for the fact they don’t own their own third rounder this year pick.
With the Giants taking either Ward or Sanders I’d then try trade back again with the Raiders at 6 so they can grab the other QB. And again try grab a one of their third round picks this year and a future third.
You’ve got Pollard and Spears as ball carries and Ridley and Burks as catching targets. The line is decent with Latham, Petit-Frere, Skoronski and Cushenberry.
So at 6 I’d go defence with a guy like Mykel Williams and continue to build that side of the ball. Defence, Defence and Defence. Get a stop gate QB in like Russ, Cousins, Jimmy G, Wentz who might like a 1/2 year chance as a starter on a not so horrible side. Even if you have to go as low as Mac Jones or Jameis Winston.
Two thirds won’t cut it.
They’d only be moving down 2 spots so they might. Under the assumption that they don’t want a QB that is.
They are only moving down a couple spots and it’s not like there’s much competition for teams moving up. They don’t have a third so overall you’d be going from 1st to 6th adding two thirds right away and loading up another 2 thirds next year while still getting an elite talent at 6
I’m glad teams see how flawed Sanders is. He’s a project QB who was hyped up like he’s the next Mahomes or something.
Imo the only true #1 pick in this draft is Abdul Carter. Hunter played against competition notorious for having undisciplined defensive backs with poor fundamentals and has yet to show he can actually be a franchise WR or cornerback. He’s probably the only one I’d draft top five after Carter, though.
Cam Ward is talented but again there’s way too many question marks for me about him as a franchise QB to draft him in the top five.
We do not want to go Vince Young again……That`s who Ward reminds me of
Man Vince was so good in college. That USC game solidified him as a legend for every millennial.
Just seemed to not have the right mindset for a franchise QB. They surrounded him with plenty even though they didn’t have a true #1 WR until he was long gone.
Ward just reminds me of any overhyped athletic QB coming out of college. Miami is really overrated.
The biggest reason Sanders is rated as high as he is is his daddy. If he didn’t have the last name you would not hear about him as a 1st rounder. I still think whoever takes him will have his daddy hounding the team for a job. There are a few teams I wouldn’t mind seeing him go to. Then see him and daddy crash the team.
Take OL and DL with the first 3 (their) picks. Take Arch next year
Down drafts as proclaimed by the media at the time, the one that had Mahomes and Watson along with the Jackson/Allen draft. In fact, the guys they thought (parroted from agents) would be good in those drafts were the ones who weren’t unless you consider Darnold finally reaching his potential in year seven as good. Listen to these dummies at your own peril. I’ll bet on a Hall of Fame cornerback’s child who has been schooled in the game from birth being good over what talking heads say.