No. 1 biggest "What If" in Titans history: Signing Peyton Manning in 2012's free agency
It's extremely rare for franchise quarterbacks to hit the open market, which is why teams went out of their way to pursue Peyton Manning in 2012 when he was available. That year, clubs tried to court the Sheriff however they could and the Tennessee Titans didn't want to be left out of the party, which is why they offered him a stake in the team.
That's right. Not only were the Titans willing to give Manning a top-market contract but they were also ready to give him part ownership of the team when he retired. That's how serious owner Bud Adams was about landing the All-Pro quarterback.
In the end, the Denver Broncos won the Manning sweepstakes and right off the bat, they became one of the top teams in the league. That's how good the former Tennessee Vol was. He could elevate everyone around him and turn whatever team he suited for into a powerhouse. He first did it for the Indianapolis Colts and later for the Broncos.
Had the Titans signed Manning, maybe they wouldn't have won the Super Bowl as he did with Denver in 2015. However, he would have increased their odds. On top of that, Tennessee would have become a premier destination for free agents in early 2010. Also, Manning would be part owner right now. Think about how crazy would that be.
Instead of narrating games from the TV boot, Manning would be watching the Titans play from the team's luxury box.