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Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has had a successful stint as the team's start since Week 7 of the 2019 season, taking over for Marcus Mariota. However, Tennessee has been unable to get back to the AFC title game, failing to win a playoff contest in trips to the postseason in 2020 and 2021. Tannehill threw two touchdowns and four interceptions in losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.
Thus, former Kentucky Will Levis was drafted with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and should be viewed as the future starter for Mike Vrabel. However, he's not a lock to start right away -- or at all in his rookie campaign.
Is Tannehill or Levis the Titans' starting QB in 2023? Let's dive in.
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The Case for Tannehill
Tannehill has been one of the best quarterbacks in Titans/Oilers' franchise history, throwing for 12,831 yards, 89 touchdowns, and just 33 interceptions in 57 games. As a rusher, he's added 819 yards and 20 touchdowns. Overall he's accumulated a 37-20 record and won two playoff games for the franchise.
Last year, he had his worst season for Tennessee, but he dealt with an ankle injury for most of the year and had limited pass-catching weapons after A.J. Brown was traded to Philadelphia.
Ultimately, there's an argument he deserves one more season to bounce back, and he'll likely be better than Levis at this point in their respective careers.
The Case For Levis
Levis has a rocket arm and could raise the ceiling of the Titans' offense. Additionally, he is already 24 years old, and since he wasn't a first-round pick, the team will have no fifth-year option. That said, getting him on the field to gain experience and see what he can do early on is important.
Tennessee should be rebuilding as Derrick Henry is aging and the loss of several key veterans, so winning now isn't necessarily the top priority. This could be a valuable season for Levis to get reps and develop into what he will be in the future.
Which QB Will Start In Week 1?
According to ESPN's Turron Davenport, Tannehill is "head and shoulders" above Levis and Malik Willis. Nobody has hope that Willis will be under center for Tennessee come Week 1, or ever, for that matter. But Levis, taken with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is expected to take over the offense eventually.
However, the former Kentucky signal-caller is still a work in progress, so Tannehill will likely start in Week 1 and could be the guy for the foreseeable future. That said, if Tannehill struggles at any point during the 2023 campaign, Levis will likely emerge as the new starter.
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