The Tennessee Titans have a decision that will shape the next several years of the franchise. If quarterback Cam Ward doesn’t turn things around over the final nine games of the season (continuing the promise from this past week against the Cincinnati Bengals), and Tennessee ends up holding the No. 2 overall pick, the quarterback conversation will be impossible to avoid.

That was the first topic Austin Stanley and I tackled while putting together our latest Titans mock draft. Whether anyone in the building believes in Ward or not, GM Mike Borgonzi, HC Robert Saleh, OC Brian Daboll, and the rest of the Titans staff have to at least talk it through. Nothing should be completely off the table.

Here’s where I land on it.

Build the support before taking another swing

The real question for the Titans is whether they’re still comfortable prioritizing the support around the quarterback position. If Ward isn’t the guy after another year, the team can always go back to the quarterback conversation later.

That’s the approach I believe in. Instead of trying to solve the quarterback problem one-for-one overnight, Tennessee should focus on building up the foundation around the position. That makes life easier for whoever ends up being the long-term answer, whether it’s Ward or someone else.

If Ward miraculously strings together some success over the final 10 games, that’s great. Although Stanley isn’t necessarily expecting it. Even so, I don’t think the Titans should be in a spot to draft another quarterback this early.

The veteran route makes more sense

The veteran quarterback route is the way to go this offseason. Stanley believes that Tennessee should be looking for somebody who is better and more expensive than Mitch Trubisky. At the very least, that sets up a legitimate quarterback battle.

There’s also a contract angle that matters here. Ward would still be under roster control for two more years before the team has to decide on his fifth-year option. A flat-out competition gives the Titans more information before that deadline arrives, without burning another premium pick on the position.

Don’t expect it to look like the Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy situation in Minnesota. That one was unique because of what Murray’s salary was.

Things could change over the rest of the NFL season, and nobody knows yet whether a veteran of that caliber will be available for the veteran minimum like the Vikings had. As things stand, investing the No. 2 pick in a quarterback isn’t the right way to go.

Is there a better prospect at No. 2?

The other piece of this is the prospect pool itself. I don’t see a quarterback in this class who is clearly a better prospect at No. 2 than Ward was coming out of college.

That matters. If the Titans are going to spend a top pick on a quarterback again, the player needs to be an obvious upgrade over what they already have on the roster. Taking a similar or lesser prospect and hoping for a different result isn’t a plan. It would just restart the clock while the roster around the position stays thin.

Tennessee would be far better served using that pick on a premium player who raises the floor of the entire team. A stronger supporting cast also gives the staff a cleaner evaluation of Ward. If he still struggles with better talent around him, the answer becomes much easier to see.

What comes next for Tennessee

None of this means the quarterback conversation goes away. It just means the Titans give themselves the best chance to get a clear answer before making another major investment at the position.

One thing is very clear. Tennessee needs to build the foundation first, bring in a real veteran to compete with Ward, and let the results speak for themselves. If Ward can’t win that battle, the Titans can circle back to the quarterback search with a much better roster in place.