With the Will Levis era likely over in Nashville, the Tennessee Titans will be in search of a new starting quarterback this offseason.
Whether that QB comes in the 2025 NFL Draft, free agency, or via trade, quarterback drama will undoubtedly capture the headlines for the next few months. As things currently stand, there's no clear direction that makes the most sense for the Titans.
Tennessee is not currently in position to draft one of the top incoming rookies (Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward), and there are red flags with many of the players available in free agency. Does a bridge quarterback make sense? Or is the pressure to win in 2025 so strong that Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan feel a need to get "the guy" this offseason?
You could probably make compelling arguments for or against all of the quarterbacks on the market. But for me, there's one option the Titans need to avoid at all costs: Paying Sam Darnold franchise quarterback money in free agency.
Sam Darnold
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is probably going to be the best quarterback available in free agency. He has put together a really impressive season through 15 games (3,776 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) and has the 13-2 Vikings in contention for the number one seed in the NFC Playoffs.
After failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers and one year as the backup in San Francisco, Darnold is now proving he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in this league.
On the surface, Darnold has everything the Titans should be looking for. He's still young and will be 28 next season. He's accurate with a completion percentage of 67.2 percent on the year and possesses enough athleticism to extend plays and get out of the pocket.
I really like the player. I really like the fit with Brian Callahan's offense. But I get really worried about the price tag.
Darnold is not like your other bridge quarterbacks available in free agency. Spotrac projects Justin Fields to get a one-year, $8.9 million contract. I'd guess that the market is similar for a Jameis Winston, Zach Wilson, or Cooper Rush. But not for Darnold. Darnold is going to get paid like a Top 10 guy in the league.
Spotrac's current market value for Sam Darnold in free agency is a four-year, $141.7 million contract. That's over $35 million per season in AAV for a player who has had one breakout season. That's not a bridge quarterback..that's tying your franchise to him for the foreseeable future and I'm just not sure I can get on board with that risk-reward.
This is an unproven coaching staff and an unproven front office. The last thing the Titans need is a big-money, but unproven quarterback leading them. There are other veteran options that will become available for much cheaper.
In an ideal world, the Titans would end up drafting in a position to get a difference-maker rookie quarterback like Shedeur Sanders. Sanders could be the future of the franchise and give Tennessee a fresh start.
If that can't happen I'd like to see the Titans make a move for a veteran bridge quarterback that can also help them compete in 2025. I think the pressure will be on for Callahan and Carthon to produce a winner. They can't sit around and finish last place in the AFC South for another season and expect to be retained. Given the contract situations, this could make Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins make some sense. They also both come with easy outs for the organization at a low cost just in case things don't go well and Callahan/Carthon are fired.
But at this stage in his career and at this stage of the organization, Sam Darnold is going to require more commitment than what I'd be comfortable with the Titans giving. At a lower price, he's your guy. But for $150 million I'd avoid it at all costs.
