Why drafting a rookie quarterback makes so much sense for the Tennessee Titans
With Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis already on the roster, the Tennessee Titans would still do well to look at this draft’s rookie quarterbacks
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans already have two quarterbacks on their roster. Veteran Ryan Tannehill is in the last year of a long-term contract and Malik Willis is looking to improve dramatically ahead of his sophomore campaign.
Neither player's situation should keep Tennessee from drafting one of the top passer prospects later this month.
In fact, the Titans situation almost demands that they do more than just consider it. There is still a world where general manager Ran Carthon could choose to extend Tannehill to bring his 2023 salary cap hit of $36.6 million down, but it would be a situational patch at best. Coach Mike Vrabel and his staff have been complimentary of the work Willis has done to improve this offseason.
Tennessee still felt more comfortable benching the third-round rookie for journeyman Joshua Dobbs in a critical stretch of games.
No one possesses the ability to correctly predict the order that quarterbacks will come off the draft board in Kansas City on April 27. What we do know is that the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts both need quarterbacks and own picks No. 2 and No. 4 overall respectively. We also know that Houston also owns another first-round choice at No. 12, which gives them flexibility at the top of the draft.
With each passing day, the four consensus first-round passers has grown to a Top 5 that would make it fairly surprising to see former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker left without a team after Day 1. The Titans own only six picks this year and taking a developmental quarterback with a top draft choice would leave many with a bad taste in their mouths.
The reality is that it makes too much sense, provided the club feel strongly enough about this hypothetical player.
C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young are not can't miss prospects. No such thing exists in a science as imperfect as the NFL Draft. Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and Hooker are all long-plays for various reasons, but offer the promise of potential and affordable rookie contracts that make all early risks worth taking.
It is especially critical for Tennessee to consider all options available to them.
The Titans are a team with a veteran they are paying too much for with a young player at the same position on the roster that they are anything but married to. Tannehill's contract allows Tennessee to bring in a young quarterback and develop them on the back end for a year or two, move on from Willis or move him to another team if at all possible and try to find a cost-effective starting option for at least the next three to four years.
If the Titans can turn said prospect into even a replacement level starting player, it will be an improvement upon what Willis currently offers. The rookie price tag allows a team like the Titans to invest fully in every other position on the roster and a higher percentage chance at a deep playoff run.
It may seem like a drastic action, but this is a franchise that feels stagnant. Any meaningful action is better than spending another season rotting amongst the rest of the AFC South.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
