NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have a quarterback conundrum heading into the 2024 season. Second-year passer Will Levis will be the starter, of course, but a capable back-up option is near the top of GM Ran Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan's offseason checklist.

2022 third-round pick Malik Willis has been insufficient in the role to date.

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"We're going to continue to look (at quarterback options," Carthon said at last week's NFL Scouting Combine. "We have Malik (Willis) in house and we're not going to go into training camp with just two quarterbacks. We're going to bring another quarterback in at some point whether that's through the draft, whether that's through free agency to compete, and we expect all three of those guys to compete and elevate the room. We're going to mix and match and see what's the best fit."

Tennessee must add a veteran quarterback in next week's free agency. 

Not only because back-ups have never been more valuable than they are in today's expanded 17-game regular season schedule, but because an experienced player at the position can help guide Levis through the adversities that he will continue to face in his very young career. A variety of options exist that can check these boxes and put the Titans in the best possible position to succeed. Pending 2024 free agent Gardner Minshew might just be the best available passer for Tennessee.

It is fair to expect the Indianapolis Colts, who started Minshew in 13 games last season, might push to retain him.

Minshew made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after first-round pick Anthony Richardson lost the bulk of his rookie season to injury. With first-year coach Shane Steichen calling the offensive plays, Indianapolis put together a record of 7-6 with Minshew at helm and 9-8 overall to finish third in the AFC South. Minshew threw for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions en route to helping the Colts sweep the Titans for the first time since 2018. 

The former Jacksonville Jaguars sixth-round draft choice has his flaws, but is exactly the kind of presence a team like Tennessee needs were it to lose its starting option to injury or otherwise.

Between now and Monday Mar. 11 at 10:59 a.m. CT, players who will become unrestricted free agents in 2024 may only negotiate new contracts with the team they last played for in 2023. Indianapolis would be wise to keep Minshew in-house after the way he performed for them in Richardson's absence. There are other names on the market that might fit the mold of what Tennessee is looking for, including Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor or Jameis Winston.

If Minshew hits the open market on Mar. 13, he might just be the best possible fit. 

Ran Carthon gets real about rumors of previous friction within Titans brass

INDIANAPOLIS — Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon had an eventful first year on the job. After a 6-11 finish and parting ways with coach Mike Vrabel at year's end, Carthon is focused on the path forward.  While Carthon preferred to work in the background, it left him open for plenty of criticism he opted […]

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