My Two Cents: Titans Doing Homework on QBs, Seem Poised to Pounce If They Can

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The consensus seems to be that there are four first-round-worthy quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft. There's also a consensus that more than four teams wouldn't mind drafting them.

The Tennessee Titans, who have the 11th overall pick — at least right now — seem to be one of those teams. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer thinks they're ''a sneaky team'' in the quarterback derby and that they've been ''turning over every rock'' in looking at Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Will Levis (Kentucky) and Anthony Richardson (Florida).

It seems very likely that Stroud and Young go 1-2 — or 2-1 depending what the Carolina Panthers want to do with their newly acquired No. 1. The Houston Texans will almost certainly take the other one.

What becomes interesting after that is the chase for Levis and Richardson. A lot can happen there, and there's plenty of conjecture. Both are athletically gifted and have a high upside, but are still a bit on the raw side.

New Titans general manager Ran Carthon was at all three quarterback pro days last week in Columbus, Tuscaloosa and Lexington, and coach Mike Vrabel made stops at Ohio State — his alma mater — and Kentucky. Richardson's pro day is Thursday in Gainesville, Fla. They've had extensive conversations with Young, Stroud and Levis, and the plan is to do the same with Richardson.

After the Panthers and Texans — who both desperately need quarterback help — of the next eight teams, only the Indianapolis Colts are also in desperation mode when it comes to the quarterback position.

For others — like Seattle at No. 5 — taking a flyer on Levis or Richardson there wouldn't be a shocker, but they've got Geno Smith locked up for three years — and $75 million — and don't need to grab a QB. But they have that pick courtesy of the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade and it's highly unlikely that the Seahawks will draft this high on their own any time soon. Getting their quarterback of the future might makes sense.

But they would also like to win right now and there are plenty of sure-fire impact starters available in that spot. So if the Colts take, say Richardson at No. 4, maybe Levis starts to fall.

Is it possible he drops all the way to the Titans at No. 11? Some mock drafts have him still available there, so it can happen.

The Titans have a lot of other needs as well, but quarterbacks are king in this league, and if they think they can get a franchise QB in this draft, they should do it. Levis might need some seasoning — Richardson does, too — but the Titans at least have the luxury of Ryan Tannehill still being under contract for a year.

Taking a raw rookie isn't so bad with Tannehill still around. And by 2024, you're clear of his contract and you'd presumably have your franchise QB dressed and ready to go.

Vrabel was asked what he looks for in a quarterback on Monday here in Phoenix.

"I think leadership and what the players around them, how they feed off of them,'' Vrabel said. "Toughness, accuracy, do they take care of the football? The turnover margin and the rate of success in our league, those are too telling of a stat to not look at the way the player protects the football, whether that's in the pocket, or scrambling or that's when they throw.

"When they put it in harm's way, that's a tough way to win in this league because 75 percent of the teams in this league that win the turnover margin win the game.''

There are still four-plus weeks before the 2023 NFL Draft and a lot is going to happen between now and then. When Vrabel met with the media here on Monday, he made it clear that the roster is very much in flux right now, and it may look dramatically different in September than it does right now in late-March.

That's not so rare for a team in transition.

That's why it's going to be fun to watch this all play out every day. And if there's a quarterback you really want, then go him — at all costs.

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