Titans Future QB

[titansfan]

In House Candidates

 

Ryan Tannehill.

Tanny came in in 2019 and took the Titans offense to the next level at a time when the team needed a QB who could be accurate, athletic and execute the playaction. He followed that up with his career year, but since then has been on a steady decline. The issues that he struggled with in Miami (recognizing defenses post-snap and inconsistent pocket awareness) have resurfaced and his athleticism has declined. To top it off, he falls short in high pressure situations consistently. We have assuredly seen his best days and the high premium price we are paying for him is no longer a good investment. 

 

Malik Willis.

He's absolutely showing why so many team passed on him despite talks of him going in the 1st round last spring. He does have incredible tools including a strong arm, great athleticism, and impressive ability to make off angle throws. However, the tools are a bit oversold and he is still at the basic level in actually knowing the QB position. The mental clock is not there and the decisiveness is not there. He's coachable but this is pro ball not college. The team can continue to develop him but the idea of him being ready to take over full time is far-fetched at this point.

 

Veteran Options Around the League

 

Lamar Jackson.

Represents the best available option for any team, but is still a fantasy at this point despite being an unrestricted free agent. He's not having his best year yet its unfathomable that Baltimore lets him go regardless of the high price tag. It doesn't hurt that the glitter of Tyler Huntley has completely dulled over the past few weeks. For us, we'd have to move a lot money around to afford him. 

 

Jimmy Garrappolo.

Jimmy has a lot of that football word for confidence, "moxy". He generally plays well within the offense but can be counted on to make boneheaded decisions. Like Tannehill, he's capped and to be honest I'm not sure if he's better than Tannehill. But he would certainly be cheaper. 

 

Jacoby Brissett.

Like Garrappolo, he's probably not better than Tannehill but he would be cheaper. Is a "game manager" and has decent athleticism as well. Was actually Cleveland's best QB this year and has more than once been the calming captain over turbulent waters for many franchises.

 

Sam Darnold.

Will likely get another shot in this league to be a starter because he seemingly has the build and style that many old decision makers like but he's not that good.

 

Tom Brady

I'll put this as an option because it'll come up but this team has too many holes for Brady to consider us in a sweepstakes scenario. 

 

Trey Lance

I'll put him down as a potential trade option if San Francisco decides to roll with Purdy or even Brady. I think he's in the mold of the QB that Mike Vrabel desires and he does have a great skillet, but he's legitimately only played and had just one great season (at an FCS conference no less) dating back to 2018.

 

David Carr

Recently benched, Carr is another QB who has been grouped with Tannehill and Garrappolo as the above average tier of QBs in the league. Him being benched is a strategic one that gives the Raiders the ability to cut Carr outright and not be obligated to any guaranteed pay. If that's the case the smart move is to see if he becomes a free agent. The next question is if he really serves as a better option.

 

 

Draft Options.

 

Will Levis.

Has an incredible arm and experience on Shannahan/McVay style offenses which most bad teams will try to employ as they find new coaches. Has some film where he makes weird decisions. He also plays the game a bit recklessly. However, all of his flaws appear fixable and he seems to be a real "football guy" which is why I'm one of the few who actually thinks Houston will end up making him the first QB off the board, but there's a whole offseason to debate that.

 

Bryce Young.

My favorite QB prospect of this year. In terms of processing the game he is the exact opposite of Malik. He has a highly advanced level of understanding in real time what a defense is doing. He may be the most intelligent in game QB prospect I've ever seen. Obvious knocks are his size (5'10, 185lbs) and lack of any true physical attributes to marvel at (no special athleticism and no cannon for an arm).

 

CJ Stroud

The QB that has become the whipping boy of draft analysts because they got another year to fully evaluate him after crowning him the year before. He's actually progressed and truly has lived up to the billing but of course any shortcomings will become magnified. He's the most accurate passer of qb prospects in quite some time, but has not had many situations where he did not have the talent advantage and that worries scouts especially when you see him lose a game against a comparable opponent like Michigan.

 

Anthony Richardson.

I think he will go top 15. He's actually what many thought Malik Willis was. He DOES have special speed, athleticism, and a cannon for an arm. But he's going to require at least a year to develop. In terms of comparison though-- the only other QBs who share his traits are Cam Newton and Josh Allen. His ceiling is crazy high. He can be special if he becomes an expert at the game and is in a good situation

 

 

2024 Options

 

Caleb Williams.

His hype will compare to Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence's. The Mahomes comparisons are inescapable. He's the real deal but it will be interesting to see how he stands up to the expectations next season. Odds on favorite to be #1 next year.

 

Drake Maye.

Like Williams, would be the #1 pick if he could come out this year. Amazing passer. Had an inconsistent stretch in the last two games of the season but he elevates the team around him. Him and Williams will be 1 and 2 next year.

 

 

 

[Jamalisms]

Jimmy G is much closer to Ryan Tannehill than most people want to admit. He might be cheaper, too. From things I've read, he's not remotely the leader Tanny is ... but there are far worse placeholder options if the Titans are going to draft somebody ... and, again, not much drop off from Tanny.

 

The scary thing is how bad this offense is and was even under Tanny. Jimmy G or any other placeholder type quarterback isn't going to fix that.

 

Lamar is far more interesting if you're looking for somebody who might be able to hold his own. But they want to build around what he does and I've never looked into it enough to know what kind of fit that is for what we already do. And he'd be incredibly expensive, which is prohibitive to building around him. He would definitely represent a competitive option but the best option is finding a great quarterback in the draft and having him cheap for a while. The trouble is actually doing that.

[AussieTitanFan08]

1 minute ago, Jamalisms said:

Jimmy G is much closer to Ryan Tannehill than most people want to admit. He might be cheaper, too. From things I've read, he's not remotely the leader Tanny is ... but there are far worse placeholder options if the Titans are going to draft somebody ... and, again, not much drop off from Tanny.

 

With his ties to the Jets coaching staff would be surprised if Garoppolo didn't end up being a Jet.

[rns90]

Lamar isn't an option just on cost/draft picks etc.  Brady is more likely than Lamar.

[Thrill]

Jimmy G wouldn't save us much money. Might as well stick with Tannehill if we go that route. Brissett seems more likely. 

[titansfan]

Lamar Jackson is highly unlikely almost entirely because of the price. As a stylistic fit and what he'd bring to this team, I think Vrabel would love it.

 

He would unlock even more opportunities for Henry.

[Nash]

We don't have the foundation in place to develop a qb at this point.. start with a GM, and a new offensive coordinator and philosophy.. baby steps.. hopefully draft the qb in 24

[rns90]

Just now, Nash said:

We don't have the foundation in place to develop a qb at this point.. start with a GM, and a new offensive coordinator and philosophy.. baby steps.. hopefully draft the qb in 24

Here are the needs: a WR 2, the entire OL has to be rebuilt, an in line TE, and another RB (face it by the time this qb may be good, Henry is over the hill/declining).  A rookie qb isn't going to be successful off the bat in 2023.

[BaddKarma]

All for future QB talk.

 

However, the QB does not matter when the WR group could use a 45 year old Terrel Owens as an upgrade.

 

Watch the 49ers and Redskins game and you will see WR talent making average QBs look great on both teams.

[OzTitan]

I fail to see what incredible tools Willis actually has. He just seems like an average college QB who was athletic enough there but not for the NFL, that they could have found as a UDFA.

 

Lamar isn't at all realistic. Not only would the trade market be hotter than Watson, so think fully guaranteed contract with a stupid cap hit, but the trade cost itself would mean you are limiting your ability to even draft good cheap weapons for him. The only team that would make sense is one with plenty of cap and a lot of offensive weapons on cheap deals already, which I don't think even exists. If traded, there's a good chance he goes into a situation where he'll show he already peaked as a QB a few years ago, IMO.

[rns90]

1 minute ago, OzTitan said:

I fail to see what incredible tools Willis actually has. He just seems like an average college QB who was athletic enough there but not for the NFL, that they could have found as a UDFA.

 

Lamar isn't at all realistic. Not only would the trade market be hotter than Watson, so think fully guaranteed contract with a stupid cap hit, but the trade cost itself would mean you are limiting your ability to even draft good cheap weapons for him. The only team that would make sense is one with plenty of cap and a lot of offensive weapons on cheap deals already, which I don't think even exists. If traded, there's a good chance he goes into a situation where he'll show he already peaked as a QB a few years ago, IMO.

Atlanta Falcons?  Have shit ton of cap space and drafted Pitts and London in the last two years.   

[9 Nines]

Mettenberger would come back

[OzTitan]

Just now, rns90 said:

Atlanta Falcons?  Have shit ton of cap space and drafted Pitts and London in the last two years.   

 

Yeah that is probably the closest description and not completely unrealistic. He'd probably do well there.

[flaming_thumbtack]

I would legitimately rather keep Malik Willis than have Will Levis. He is one and the worst decision-makers I've seen and has never shown any ability to read a defense. I get that he has a good arm, is a good leader, and "looks the part," but there comes a point when sucking at football should matter a lot more than those things. 

[rns90]

Honestly they need to solve LT first and there are too many damn teams needing a qb ahead of them anyway.