All signs are pointing toward the Tennessee Titans using the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft on Miami quarterback Cam Ward. While most feel that this would be a strong move by first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi and the franchise, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum said on "The Buck Reising Show" that the Titans may regret not giving Will Levis another chance.
"Worst case scenario (for the Titans) isn't missing on Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders," said Tannenbaum. "Worst case scenario is losing out on Will Levis and Will Levis being a franchise quarterback for another team. ... You have to correctly evaluate your own (players)."
Levis was a second-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2023 but has failed to live up to expectations through two seasons. While the offensive playmakers around him were far from top-tier last season, Levis still threw only 13 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions and 10 fumbles.
Ward threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns last year for the Miami Hurricanes, and while comparing college stats to professional stats is not an apples-to-apples comparison, Ward showed more promise than Levis did last season. Levis has the physical tools to be a good NFL quarterback, but his decision-making and back-breaking turnovers killed the Titans at times last season.
Borgonzi likely wants to attach himself to a highly touted young signal-caller, and head coach Brian Callahan would surely be on board as he rose through the coaching ranks as a quarterback guru. While Tannenbaum's warning is justifiable, Levis has done nothing in his NFL career thus far to indicate that the Titans should not be looking for an upgrade in this year's draft.
Trade Pitch Has Titans Send Will Levis to NFC Contender
It's starting to look like the Will Levis era will already be coming to an end for the Tennessee Titans. The team holds the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and there's a lot of momentum building that they will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
If that happens, he'll be the quarterback of the Titans going forward. At that point, there wouldn't be much of a reason to keep Levis on the roster.
The former second-round pick doesn't have much value on the trade market but Tennessee could try to get something in return for him before he has no value at all.
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report pitched a trade that sees the Titans send Levis and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
"If [J.J.] McCarthy has a setback in his recovery from two meniscus tears or a rough offseason, Levis can provide veteran insurance until the Vikings get their quarterback of the future ready to lead the huddle," Moton wrote.
The Vikings are out on Aaron Rodgers and didn't re-sign Sam Darnold in free agency. They also lost Daniel Jones. McCarthy is the future for Minnesota but he's young and coming off an injury.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell is one of the best coaches in the NFL at developing quarterbacks so he could see some potential in Levis. A late-round pick swap would be a small price to pay for a quarterback who could have a chance to start in 2025.
