Titans drafting Will Levis puts added emphasis on quarterback competition

The Tennessee Titans were one of four teams to select a quarterback in the first 35 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft, drafting Will Levis out of Kentucky to come in and supplement the quarterback room.

And while Levis won’t be expected to start right away, his mere drafting is a pretty good indication the Titans want him in the mix in the near future.

That could make the locker room interesting, with Tennessee also spending a third-round draft pick on Malik Willis a year prior. How those two mesh with veteran Ryan Tannehill remains to be seen.

“Well I’ve seen it grow. I’ve seen it grow,” coach Mike Vrabel said of the quarterback room on the NFL Network on Saturday. “I think that when things first happen, whether you draft a player at somebody else’s position — they drafted safeties when you were playing safety, they drafted outside linebackers when I was playing outside linebacker. That’s the nature of this business.”

In other words, these guys just need to come in and compete. The roster is what it is.

Despite the Titans drafting Will Levis at No. 33 overall, Tannehill is the almost certain starter going into the year, having started 55 games for the Titans over the past four seasons. He has logged more than 33,000 career passing yards with 212 touchdowns.

He’s seen a lot and will be able to help the two younger quarterbacks pick up the game. That’s something Vrabel seemed to be stressing.

“I’ve seen a growth in all their relationship,” Vrabel said. “They have different personalities. I think it’s been good. I think the communication with Charles London and Pat O’Hara and Timmy Kelly has been really good in there, and I’m excited where those guys are at and we’ll keep working.”

Willis does have a slight experience edge on Levis in the battle to win the backup job, even with the Titans drafting Will Levis more recently (and at a higher draft slot). He appeared in eight games as a rookie and went 31-of-61 passing for 276 yards, but with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He did rush for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Levis can also add some ability to move the ball with his legs, though he’s more of a bruising runner than a fleet-footed one.

The former Kentucky star lit it up for the Wildcats for two seasons, throwing for 5,232 yards, with 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He also ran for 269 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Both should get a healthy competition in during camp before the Titans decide on the final pecking order.