Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill wasn't surprised that the team traded up to the beginning of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to choose Will Levis after the Kentucky quarterback slipped out of the first round.
In fact, the move felt rather familiar to Tannehill, as he acknowledged to reporters on Wednesday.
"We've been down this road before so it's definitely a little bit of déjà vu," Tannehill said, per ESPN.
Indeed, the Titans have now traded up to select Day 2 quarterbacks in back-to-back NFL Drafts. They first moved up for a signal caller in 2022, when they chose Liberty's Malik Willis in the third round with the 86th overall selection.
MORE: Why Will Levis slide in the 2023 NFL Draft, explained
But after Willis disappointed in limited action while relieving Tannehill in 2022, Tennessee made the move to get Levis. That now gives them two developmental passers behind the veteran Tannehill as he enters the final year of his deal with the Titans.
Many believe that may signal the end of Tannehill's time in Tennessee. But the 34-year-old isn't worrying about his future as he prepares to prove his worth during the 2023 NFL season.
"My job is to get ready to go win football games and that's what I'm going to do each and every day," Tannehill said. "As players, you got to control what you can control — and that's doing the best you can."
Tannehill's response is about as professional as one can expect from an embattled quarterback. It also differs in tone from what he said during the 2022 offseason when asked if he was willing to mentor Willis as they competed for playing time.
“That (competition) is part of being in the quarterback room, the same room,” Tannehill said in 2022, per Sports Illustrated. “We’re competing against each other, we’re watching the same tape, we’re doing the same drills. I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him, but if he learns from me along the way, then that’s a great thing."
Tannehill faced a great deal of backlash for his comments at that time, so it would appear that he is trying to avoid poking the bear as he addresses his uncertain status this time around.
Even despite the multiple early-round quarterback selections, Tannehill remains atop the Titans' quarterback depth chart. But could either Willis or Levis give him a run for his money? And, if so, which young signal-caller has the better chance to unseat him?
Here's what to know about Tennessee's quarterback room as the dust settles following the 2023 NFL Draft.
MORE: Full list of Titans picks in the 2023 NFL Draft
Titans QB depth chart
1. Ryan Tannehill
As mentioned, Tannehill remains the Titans' top quarterback entering what will be his age-35 season. The veteran is entering his 11th season in the NFL after being a top-10 pick by the Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft and has been an efficient starter for Tennessee.
Tannehill isn't an explosive quarterback, but he completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,536 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 starts for the Titans last season. He is an accurate passer with solid mobility and will provide the Titans with a steady hand in what is expected to be a rebuilding year.
That said, Tannehill is overpaid for his skill set, as he's set to have a cap hit of $36.6 million in 2023. The Titans may look to move on from him for a quarterback with more upside during the 2024 offseason, especially if Tannehill struggles to elevate the talent surrounding him.
Given that the Titans are rebuilding, this could set Tannehill up for a tough year. He will need to bring his A-game to earn a shot at a starting job in 2024 — be it with the Titans or another team.
2. Malik Willis
It may surprise some to see Willis as the No. 2 quarterback for the Titans, but coach Mike Vrabel clarified that he was the team's top backup in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 NFL Draft.
"Malik will be the backup," Vrabel said after naming Tannehill the starter. "Will will be the third quarterback. And what I've told them is whatever happens after that will be up to the players. That's what it's always been here. That's what we always want it to be."
So, Willis is only holding onto that position for the time being, and he will need to work hard to keep it long-term.
Willis struggled immensely during the 2022 NFL season in three starts. He posted a 1-2 record but completed just 50.6 percent of his passes for 276 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was dynamic on the ground, recording 123 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, but his lack of accuracy and inability to stave off competition from signed-off-the-street Josh Dobbs in the final weeks of the season indicate that he is on thin ice in Tennessee, barring a big step forward.
MORE: Former Titans tackle Taylor Lewan suing over ACL surgery
3. Will Levis
It's not too surprising to see Levis start the offseason as the No. 3 quarterback in Tennessee. The coaching staff will want to give him some time to learn the offense before throwing him into too much action, so keeping him behind Tannehill and Willis makes sense.
Plus, as Vrabel mentioned, he wants his players to earn their spots on the depth chart. Making Levis compete against Willis for the backup job is sensible.
Levis is a more polished passer than Willis having come from a pro-style offense at Kentucky and having played against SEC-level competition. He has a big arm, good mobility and completed 65.4 percent of his passes in his final year at Kentucky while throwing for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Levis needs to avoid interceptions to become a quality passer at the NFL level, but there was a reason that many viewed him as a potential first-round pick in 2023. He will need to showcase that upside to beat Willis in the battle to be the successor to Tannehill.
