About the Titans’ Massive Decision …

No one expected it down the stretch of the 2024 regular season — mainly because most didn’t think they were that terrible — but the Tennessee Titans finished with the NFL’s worst record and, through tiebreakers, earned the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

About the Titans’ Massive Decision …

All eyes turn to the Titans’ decision-making. Tennessee represents the first almighty domino in the draft cycle, and they hold the cards.

Meanwhile, Tennessee fired general manager Ran Carton this week, which added thickness to the plot of the first overall pick.

On the whole, these are the Titans’ options.

1. Stay Put — Do Nothing

The Titans can make this real simple, refusing to do deals with other quarterback-hungry teams. With the first overall pick, the soon-to-be new general manager will select Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, and that’ll be that.

Of course, the unnamed next executive must get a commitment from Sanders — and his dad — to play for the Titans. It’s a hurdle.

On the whole, Tennessee, here, doesn’t make anything complicated and sticks-and-picks, almost guaranteed to be a quarterback, Sanders or Ward.

2. Trade Down for an Absolute Haul

Tennessee could conduct business with a team like the New Orleans Saints or New York Jets and grab a king’s ransom of picks for No. 1. The Titans’ front office could dictate terms and proceed accordingly.

This one is especially fascinating if a bidding war ensues.

Trading down multiple draft spots doesn’t necessarily solve the Titans’ quarterback problem, though. The new general manager would have to get creative, perhaps with a prospect like Texas’ Quinn Ewers or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe later in the draft.

3. Trade Down a Smidgen and Still Get a QB

Here’s the sweet compromise option.

The Titans trade a spot, two, or three, accumulate a little bit of sweet trade capital, and also draft Sanders or Ward. They’ll have to keep their object-of-desire prospect a secret to drive up the price, but that’s more than possible.

Per team-building, this is the have-your-cake-it-and-eat-it method.

4. Sign a Free-Agent QB like Sam Darnold

While probably trading down and possibly still believing quarterback Will Levis is a viable path forward for the future, Tennessee could sign a free-agent-to-be (or trade for) a quarterback like Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings or Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons.

Darnold has played wonderfully in Minnesota this season, and adding him to the Titans roster could check out, in addition to keeping Levis for a couple more years.

Thereafter, Tennessee — likely with a few draft picks from the hypothetical trade — could build around Darnold, hoping he maintains his 2024 form.

5. Roll with Will Levis + Build Out the Roster

Finally, the Levis route.

Levis has shown flashes, albeit somewhat limited, of promise. He’s the owner of a strong arm and some sexy upside. The Titans just have to squeeze it out of him and hope for the best.

Like the Darnold option above, Tennessee would surround Levis with a team of youngsters and new free agents.

It’s worth noting that the Titans have around $50 million in cap space this offseason.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.