Despite a new free agent signing, a surprising quarterback competition is brewing. Saleh refuses to rule out a former starter's return for the backup role.
The talk around the Tennessee Titans this offseason has been regarding the 2026 NFL Draft and who the team will take with the No. 4 overall pick.
Carnell Tate, Sonny Styles, Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey and Jeremiyah Love have all been mocked to Tennessee at one time or another. Recently, General Manager Mike Borgonzi shared that the Titans' draft strategy will be to take the best player available regardless of position.
After what Borgonzi I believe that points directly to the Titans taking Love at No. 4 if what he said is true.
Adding either of the players mentioned will address a need that this team has. Luckily, the Titans were able to address plenty of needs in free agency before the draft.
Wan'Dale Robinson, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor, and Cor'Dale Flott were some of the biggest moves. Still, an underrated one, especially for this franchise's history, was the signing of backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Trubisky adds to a long line of solid backup quarterbacks. Initially, it seemed that the job was Trubisky's, but Robert Saleh let the people know that it's a competition for the backup role, with you guessed it, Will Levis.
Levis missed all of last season with an AC Joint injury, but Saleh wasn't ready to close the book on him yet, per Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com.
"I think it's gonna elevate whoever the backup is," Saleh said. "I think it's really gonna elevate that room. So, Will is coming off that shoulder injury. Let's not close the door on him either. You know, [Mitchell] Trubisky has had a tremendous career, and we're really, really excited to have him, but he's really gonna elevate the competition in that room and really excited for those two to have unbelievable offseasons."
Many ups and downs have marked Levis' tenure with the Titans.
As a rookie, he was the backup to Ryan Tannehill. He got his shot in Week 8 of the 2023 season, starting against the Atlanta Falcons. Levis' gunslinger ability was displayed in a 28-23 win, as he finished with 238 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Levis started the next seven games before missing the rest of the season with a foot injury. Tannehill started the remainder of the games that year, and Mike Vrabel was eventually fired.
Levis showed promise as a rookie, finishing with 1,808 passing yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
The Titans moved on from Tannehill after 2023, putting Levis in position to start in 2024. Brian Callahan went with Levis, and it went downhill from there, with his questionable shovel passes consistently ending up in the hands of the defense.
Levis started the first four games before suffering an AC Joint injury versus the Miami Dolphins. After having a bye week to reccover he came back against the Indianapolis Colts, but only threw for 95 passing yards.
Levis would play through the injury, and Mason Rudolph had to start over him multiple times because of it. Levis had 2,091 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Tennessee ended that season 3-14 and drafted Cam Ward in the 2025 NFL Draft, essentially confirming that the franchise was moving on from Levis.
At least that's how it looked.
According to Saleh, Levis is going to get a fair shot at the backup quarterback role. It sounds like we have an offseason position battle on our hands.