Titans cannot afford to ignore this position for a second straight year

The Tennessee Titans don’t have to look far for an offseason blueprint. ESPN’s 30 for 30 series released a new documentary on February 6, titled "The Philly Special." It highlighted the iconic play that led to the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl win in 2018. While the focus was obviously on the Eagles, there's a lot to learn about roster construction and the often-overlooked value of the backup quarterback spot.

While the Titans’ offseason headlines will revolve around Cam Ward, cap space, and draft priorities, history keeps whispering the same warning: a quality backup quarterback is necessary. Philadelphia’s 2018 Super Bowl run was salvaged by preparation. When then-MVP candidate Carson Wentz went down late in the season, Nick Foles authored one of the most improbable championship performances in league history.

For the Titans, that documentary should resonate in their roster construction this offseason. Injuries happen, as evidenced by Ward's setback in their final regular-season game. Also, seasons often pivot on moments no one sees coming. The question isn’t whether Tennessee’s QB2 will matter; it’s whether the team will be ready if it does.

Titans must make investment at backup QB this offseason

Although it didn't result in a Super Bowl-winning season, the Titans experienced success with a backup quarterback during their AFC Championship run in the 2019 season. Ryan Tannehill replaced Marcus Mariota with the team sitting at 2-4 and led the team to a 7-3 finish and two playoff victories.

Before drafting Ward with the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Titans signed veteran Brandon Allen to compete to become the team's backup quarterback position with former starter Will Levis. Allen became the backup after Levis had season-ending shoulder surgery, and when his number was called, he showed why the team should prioritize that position this offseason (56.7% completion percentage, 72 yards, one interception).

The modern NFL constantly reinforces a harsh reality: quarterback is the most fragile position tied to team success. One injury can derail months of planning, fracture locker room confidence, and expose a roster’s lack of foresight. Teams often pour resources into their QB1 while treating QB2 as a placeholder due to salary cap implications.

However, the 2017 Eagles' story reframed that thinking. The Eagles invested in someone capable of executing their system without forcing the playbook to shrink. Another takeaway from their documentary was the coaching staff's ability to adjust the playbook to Foles’ familiarity and strengths, which allowed the offense to remain structurally intact.

This isn’t about planning for failure. It’s about planning for reality. If the Titans want to become serious about competing, then QB depth must become a priority. Is Levis the answer to that? Whether through free agency for another veteran or internal development with Levis, the goal should be clear: find a QB2 who can stabilize the team if the need presents itself.

If the past decade has taught the NFL anything, it’s this: seasons don’t collapse when starters get hurt. They collapse when backups can’t respond.