As things currently stand, the Tennessee Titans are at a crossroads as a franchise, and with a new GM calling the shots, the possibilities are endless for what Tennessee could conceivably do this offseason.

Does Ryan Tannehill return as the starting quarterback? Do the Titans trade up to get a quarterback in the draft? Is Aaron Rodgers coming to Nashville? Should Tennessee actually trade Derrick Henry?

Nothing is off the table. But the direction of the Titans' offseason will be determined first and foremost by what the team decides to do at quarterback. With that being said, here are the four questions that Mike Vrabel, Ran Carthon, and the Titans will need to answer before making a decision at QB in the coming months.

1. Is there a replacement available that is both a significant upgrade and realistically acquirable?

If you're having a conversation about whether or not to bring Ryan Tannehill back as your starting quarterback next season, you must also have the conversation about your realistic options for replacing him.

Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Teddy Bridgewater, Andy Dalton, and Mike White are the quarterbacks highlighting the upcoming free agency class. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields, and Lamar Jackson are names that have been discussed in potential trade packages. So where do these quarterbacks fall?

It's safe to say that most of the free agents available would not provide a significant upgrade over Tannehill at this point in their careers. If there's a case for anyone, it's Derek Carr, but seeing as he may be due for a payday of $40 million per year, he may not be worth the investment.

In the trade market, it's hard to see Rodgers, Fields, or Jackson being realistic options right now. It's still highly unlikely that Fields or Jackson are moved by their respective teams, and while Rodgers may be hoping to play somewhere else, his contract carries a cap hit over the next four seasons that would be far too steep for Tennessee to take on.

Could you get a quarterback in this year's draft? Maybe, but I don't think the Titans are in a position to move up to the top of the draft given their other needs on the roster. They'd have to hope a guy they love falls to them at 11.

2. Can you win a Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill?

Ah, yes. The question every team must ask themselves about every quarterback ahead of every season. Is this guy good enough to win a Super Bowl?

For Tannehill, my answer would be yes. Tannehill has proven to be tough, accurate, and an excellent leader that can truly excel in the right system with the right pieces around him. He is not the generational talent that will put an offense on his back throughout a postseason run and carry the franchise to a Lombardi Trophy, but he can certainly get the job done if all is sound around him.

Having an elite head coach in Mike Vrabel certainly makes it more possible as well. That said, it's still highly unlikely.

My answer may be different from yours, and your answer may differ from Carthon and Vrabel. Either way, the answer to this question is critical when assessing where you are and where you are going in the future.

3. What are your intentions for the immediate future?

Speaking of the future, the Titans need to be intentional about what direction they see their franchise going in the immediate future. They must figure out the ultimate objective of 2023.

Obviously, winning a Super Bowl title is every team's dream scenario and ultimate goal, but the Titans will need to go over their roster, coaching staff, salary cap flexibility, and future outlook and decide where to go this season.

Is 2023 a year to put all your chips in the middle and try to get one last dance out of this core? Or maybe this season is more about retooling, acquiring future assets, gaining valuable experience, and positioning yourself to get a fresh start.

Oddly enough, the Titans' intention heading into this season may also factor into their answer to the previous question. They may not care if a quarterback can lead them to a Super Bowl if the main objectives for this season are set on something else.

Personally, I don't see any team coached by Mike Vrabel throwing in the towel. "Tank" is not a word in his vocabulary. As long as he's your head coach, your team will probably stay competitive, seeing as the Titans have never been eliminated from playoff contention leading up to a game Vrabel was coaching them.

4. Who is your ideal quarterback three years into the future?

Going along with figuring out where your franchise is headed in the immediate future, it also wouldn't be a bad idea to decide where you want to be a bit down the line.

The biggest problem I'd have with the Titans signing one of the Carr, Garoppolo type free agents this offseason is less about their play on the field and more about the commitment the team would be making. Even if the whole contract wasn't guaranteed, it's a realistic expectation that the top-tier free agent quarterbacks will get at least a few years early on carrying guaranteed money.

If you are someone, like myself, who believes the Titans should strive for excellence and a higher standard of quarterback play moving froward, getting into a long-term contract with a "Tannehill tier" quarterback in 2023 would be an underwhelming lateral move.

Take a look at the elite quarterbacks in today's NFL. Those players were almost exclusively drafted by the team they currently play for, many of them taken high in the draft. If the Titans hope to have a quarterback of that caliber in a few years, they need to position themselves to have the necessary draft selections to go get one.

3-4 years of Carr means 3-4 more of years of good, but not great, quarterback play that will keep you competitive, likely produce playoff appearances, but never deliver on the ultimate goal. It requires you to be perfect in every other area to have Super Bowl aspirations.

Keeping Tannehill and taking the reset may set the Titans up to clear cap space and acquire draft picks to draft the future of the franchise.

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