The Tennessee Titans will be in the market for a new starting quarterback this offseason. The Will Levis experiment backfired miserably in 2024. The sophomore signal caller was mercifully benched earlier this December, likely ending his second season with three games remaining. Barring an injury to interim starter Mason Rudolph, Levis will end the year with a 12:12 TD:INT ratio.
The 3-12 Titans have been held back by lackluster quarterback play. That's the sentiment surrounding first-year head coach Brian Callahan. He was hired to install a modern, high-scoring offense, but Levis' form prevented that from happening.
There are no straightforward options to replace Levis. The Titans are currently slated to own a top-five selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it may not be early enough to land Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. The belief, anyway, is the Titans would prefer to pursue a veteran quarterback as opposed to another developmental one.
One of the better options expected to be available is Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold is exceeding expectations this year while playing on an expiring one-year, $10 million contract. He's due a sizable raise this offseason, and the Vikings have a first-round quarterback in J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Despite those circumstances, The Athletic's Dianna Russini is reporting that Minnesota wants him back next season.
"Darnold is in for a big payday in March," Russini wrote in a recent column. "Despite that, after conversations with a team source, one thing is clear: The Vikings want Darnold back in Minnesota for 2025."
We're just two weeks away from the NFL postseason — and with plenty still to sort out.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 28, 2024
Here’s what @DMRussini is hearing around the league about:
◽️The Vikings’ options with Sam Darnold
◽️Deshaun Watson contract restructuring
◽️Tom Brady's Raiders role
More ⤵️
Russini goes on to mention that McCarthy's season-ending injury, suffered in August, paired with Darnold's form this season, has altered general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's initial plans. The Vikings may choose to bring McCarthy along slowly, a la Jordan Love in Green Bay, Russini reports. Franchise tagging Darnold, or signing him to a short-term extension, are among the plausible outcomes.
The class of expected free agent quarterbacks is already a weak one, and it would be further weakened if Darnold, the best option, ends up back in Minnesota. The Titans would potentially have to pivot to alternatives like Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, or Kirk Cousins, with all three of those quarterbacks expected to be released by their current teams this offseason. Callahan will be searching for a veteran quarterback to operate his offense.
Darnold would be an ideal choice, but the Titans may not even receive an opportunity to pursue him.