The Tennessee Titans are entering the offseason needing to marry free agency with the 2025 NFL Draft in order to properly address all of the needs on their NFL-worst 3-14 roster. Priority No. 1 for new general manager Mike Borgonzi is to acquire a quarterback to replace Will Levis with in the starting lineup.
Whether the Titans do that via the draft or free agency remains to be seen. Borgonzi's approach to the quarterback position will have a drastic impact on Tennessee's overall offseason approach. In this latest mock offseason scenario from Pro Football Focus, the Titans sign veteran quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency, allowing them to use their draft capital elsewhere.
Titans sign Sam Darnold in PFF's mock offseason
"Head coach Brian Callahan benched Will Levis this past season after various bouts with questionable decision-making, and he could very well look at a veteran signal-caller to take up the mantle," Mason Cameron wrote. "While the Titans could make a play for Kirk Cousins, Tennessee could also forego the trade route and grab the top-ranked passer of this free-agent cycle."
Signing Darnold would then allow the Titans to forego opportunities to draft a quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at No. 1 overall. Instead, the Titans could focus on trading the pick in exchange for more draft capital, or they could draft a potential generational talent like Penn State outside linebacker Abdul Carter, or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
"Securing a quarterback in March would award the Titans with flexibility come draft day, allowing them to select a premier blue-chip prospect in the form of either Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Penn State’s Abdul Carter," Cameron continued. "It would also leave the door open for them to trade back in the round and acquire more draft assets."
It's just one example of how the Titans can approach this offseason. Drafting Carter would improve a lackluster pass rush that finished third from the bottom in sacks (32) last season. Hunter, a dynamic two-way player, could impact both offense and defense, and would be especially useful at wide receiver, where the Titans have Calvin Ridley and not much else under contract.
Callahan may also prefer a veteran quarterback like Darnold to properly execute his offense after Levis failed miserably in that department throughout 2024. Would the Titans be willing to pay a premium price for Darnold after he performed so poorly in Minnesota's final two contests? This mock-offseason scenario suggests so.