With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, it’s still unclear what the Tennessee Titans plan to do with the first overall pick. In desperate need of a quarterback, many predict the Titans will take either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, in favor of more certain prospects in other positions.
In a recent bold free agent predictions article from PFSN, though, the AFC South outfit is predicted to add a more experienced passer in free agency, leaving the rest of the league to fight over the rookies.
Multiple Quarterback Options For Tennessee
Without a playoff appearance in three-straight seasons, and having finished bottom of the AFC South in both of the last two, changes are needed in Tennessee. Will Levis, the 33rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has failed to impress, despite having the likes of Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins, and Calvin Ridley to work with.
Every successful franchise needs solid quarterback play and with multiple different options to choose from, the Titans have a huge decision to make. They could take their shot in the draft, taking the supremely talented, but volatile Ward, or trusting Sanders’ talent to outweigh the controversy and media attention that surrounds him. Alternatively, they could acquire a more experienced quarterback from this year’s free-agent pool.
Those experienced options include two Super Bowl winners in Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, who are both without teams after up-and-down spells with the Jets and Steelers respectively. Wilson’s Pittsburgh teammate Justin Fields is another option, though still yet to reach the level that would inspire immediate confidence in Titans fans.
However, according to PFSN’s article, the Titans’ best option would be to sign Sam Darnold. In search of his fifth NFL team, despite having only played seven seasons in the league, Darnold doesn’t boast the successful career history of Rodgers or Wilson. But under Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, Darnold surprised everyone with some excellent displays as he led the Vikings to an unlikely playoff appearance.
SAM DARNOLD 2024 Highlights
4,319 Yards | 35 TD | 19 TO
66.2% | 7.9 YPA | 102.5 Rating | 60.4 QBR
212 Yards | 3.2 YPC | Rush TD | 48 Sacks pic.twitter.com/ZO1vwU1WhH— Tommy R. Callahan III (@yalltitanup) February 19, 2025
Darnold ranked 12th among all qualifying quarterbacks in 2024, in PFSN’s QB+ metric. While the signing wouldn’t fix all of Tennessee’s problems, the article suggests that it would be a solid start.
“He still needs help, and the Titans would mainly need to focus on improving the 28th-ranked offensive line in our metrics.
Despite two duds to end the season, Darnold was remarkably consistent overall. He had only four regular season games graded as D+ or below compared to six B- or above grades. He finished eighth in net yards per attempt (7.3) despite very little help in yards after the catch (4.9 YAC per completion ranked 30th).
The 12 interceptions will raise some alarm bells for Titans fans who watched Will Levis flame out amid a torrent of turnovers. But at age 27, Darnold is a decent upside swing. Even if he only starts for a year, it’s worth the lottery ticket if Darnold solves Tennessee’s quarterback question without requiring the Titans to invest a premium pick.”
However, the Titans decide to address their quarterback situation in the coming months, it will be a decision that they’ll look back on one way or the other.