Will Levis named Titans starting QB: What this means for Ryan Tannehill and Tennessee’s hopes this season

The winds of exchange have come to Nashville. On Tuesday, Titans trainer Mike Vrabel introduced that rookie Will Levis shall be his starting quarterback shifting ahead. The second-rounder carried out smartly during the last two video games whilst taking part in in aid of Ryan Tannehill, who used to be coping with an ankle sprain. 

Vrabel’s determination wasn’t taken flippantly. A choice of this magnitude can exchange the process careers. Just ask Bill Belichick, who in 2001 made the then-controversial determination to call Tom Brady his starting quarterback over Drew Bledsoe, who had not too long ago signed a mega contract with the franchise. It grew to become out to be a lovely smart decision, would not you assert?

Tennessee’s brass undoubtedly hopes that one thing identical will occur now. But Vrabel, who used to be a part of the Patriots’ early 2000s dynasty, is a brilliant one who is most likely retaining practical expectancies, particularly in terms of the remainder of this season. 

While Levis prepares to make this 3rd occupation get started, let’s check out the most important affects from Vrabel’s determination. 

Why Levis used to be named QB1/what he’s going to upload to Titans offense 

Levis clearly performed smartly sufficient during the last two video games to persuade Vrabel to roll with him shifting ahead. The former Kentucky Wildcat briefly made historical past by means of turning into the primary quarterback because the merger to throw for 225 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 65% final touch share in his first get started. Levis’ special occasion propelled the Titans to a 28-23 win over the Falcons. 

He wasn’t as prolific 4 days later in Pittsburgh, however Levis nonetheless threw for extra yards (262 to 238 in his debut) whilst just about main the Titans to a last-minute win. His final throw, then again, used to be picked off by means of Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander after all zone to maintain Pittsburgh’s 20-16 win. 

In defeat, Levis most commonly performed smartly whilst showcasing his arm power and spectacular athleticism. It’s simple to observe Levis and be reminded of Brett Favre, particularly in his more youthful days. A fellow gunslinger, Levis is a fighter who could make performs others merely can not or may not dare to check out. 

Also like Favre, Levis is a great athlete who is not afraid to position his frame in hurt’s approach, as evidenced by means of his block all through a DeAndre Hopkins run in opposition to the Steelers. 

Levis loved a prolific occupation at Kentucky, however his penchant for turnovers used to be most likely a reason he wasn’t drafted till the second one spherical. Levis, although, has just one turnover to this point this season. He will indubitably flip the ball over some, and that shall be tolerated by means of Vrabel so long as he learns from his errors whilst making extra excellent performs than dangerous ones. 

One participant who would possibly in point of fact get pleasure from Levis’ promotion is Kyle Phillips, a second-year wideout who stuck seven of 8 goals all through Levis’ first two begins. Phillips stuck 8 passes all through his complete rookie season and had only one catch this season previous to Levis’ first get started. 

Levis being the starter additionally opens up the chance for extra giant performs, which is unquestionably excellent for DeAndre Hopkins, fellow wideout Treylon Burks and working again Derrick Henry, who would receive advantages by means of having a passing sport that defenses are pressured to recognize. 

What this means for 2023 Titans 

Tennessee is not throwing away the remainder of the season, however it is transparent that Vrabel needs to understand for positive what he has in Levis. Vrabel is obviously hoping for the most productive, however he is clearly keen to chance this season going sideways if issues do not move as deliberate. 

Let’s be fair for a moment. At 3-5, there is a superb probability that the Titans is probably not going to the playoffs. The AFC is admittedly stacked (each and every AFC North crew has a minimum of 5 wins) and the Jaguars have a three-game lead over the Titans within the AFC South. Really, Vrabel did not have anything else to lose by means of making this transfer. 

Best case, the Titans understand that they have got discovered their subsequent franchise quarterback. The subsequent easiest case is Levis does not pan out and they have got to return to the strategy planning stage. The worst-case state of affairs could be Levis being so-so and now not giving the Titans a definitive resolution. 

Either approach, the Titans will be told one thing all through the overall 9 video games of the season, which they do not need if that they had stored Tannehill within the starting lineup. 

What this means for Tannehill 

This one’s lovely easy … proper? Tannehill is within the ultimate yr of his contract and can check the marketplace this offseason with 0 restrictions. 

It’s nearly a make sure that Tannehill will check the open marketplace. The query is whether or not or now not Tannehill may have many groups desirous about his products and services as a starting quarterback. 

Tannehill shall be 36 sooner than the beginning of the 2024 season. He hasn’t performed a complete season since 2021 and has best performed in each and every regular-season sport on two events because the get started of the 2016 season. When he did play this season, Tannehill wasn’t superb, with 3 times as many selections than landing passes. 

The scenario may finally end up being similar to the only Mitch Trubisky confronted this previous offseason. Instead of asking for both a industry or an outright unencumber, Trubisky signed an extension to stay in Pittsburgh as Kenny Pickett’s backup. It’s imaginable that Tannehill would possibly do the similar in Tennessee. 

That will require the Titans in need of him again, then again. While they most likely would (Tannehill could be one of the crucial skilled and achieved backups within the league), the query is whether they would need Malik Willis to be their No. 2 shifting ahead. Willis is best in his moment yr and may nonetheless blossom right into a excellent professional quarterback. 

It’ll be fascinating to look how this all performs out within the coming months, because the Titans have determined to herald a brand new technology at quarterback.