Will Levis spent this season on IR, being shifted to the injured list after suffering a shoulder injury in July. Prior to that, the 2023 second-round pick loomed as a player chosen under a previous GM that brought a curious fit behind No. 1 overall draftee Cam Ward.
A report last month indicated Levis would likely be traded this offseason, but second-year GM Mike Borgonzi voiced an expectation Tuesday (via TitanInsider.com’s Terry McCormick) that the struggling quarterback would have a role on the 2026 Titans. One year remains on Levis’ rookie contract.
Ran Carthon selected Levis during the first of his two drafts. While current football ops president Chad Brinker was with the Titans when they made that pick, Borgonzi — who arrived in 2025 — is now controlling the 53-man roster. Levis’ injury last year gave Brandon Allen a smooth ride to the QB2 role; Levis’ first two seasons were anything but smooth.
After showing some promise as a rookie, the Kentucky product did not take a step forward in 2024. Brian Callahan expressed frustration with the erratic passer and benched him at points, giving then-backup Mason Rudolph chances. Levis finished last in QBR by a wide margin in 2024, throwing 13 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions and averaging 6.9 yards per attempt.
While Levis did improve on his completion percentage from his rookie year (upping it to 63.1), the Titans effectively moved on after landing the No. 1 pick in a draft that saw teams only pine for one quarterback. Ward was drafted 24 spots before any other QB last year, and he is now the Titans’ centerpiece player.
After trade rumors followed Levis leading up to the draft, he did split first-team reps with Ward during the Titans’ offseason program. The older passer would not have been a realistic challenger for the job in training camp, though it is worth wondering if he would have received more first-team work had the injury not occurred. Allen is not signed for 2026, keeping the backup job open. The Texans have used ex-starter Davis Mills as their backup for a highly drafted QB (C.J. Stroud); the Tennessee rival extended Mills last year. Levis could conceivably settle into a Mills role, though he will need to prove he can stay healthy and assimilate into the to-be-determined HC/OC’s system.
One of Levis’ former targets, Chig Okonkwo was drafted two GMs ago. Chosen in Jon Robinson‘s final draft, the Titans’ tight end starter is unsigned for 2026. Despite the team’s struggles during his rookie contract, Okonkwo said he wants to re-sign.
“I definitely want to be a part of the core and watch this place grow from where we’re at now into a winning organization,” Okonkwo said, via McCormick. “I definitely want to be a part of that. I believe in that. I believe in the vision. I believe in Cam and the things that are going on, so I definitely think it would be a great place to be for me.”
On a team that has seen a host of injury troubles in recent years, Okonkwo has been incredibly durable. The former fourth-round pick has never missed a game. He has made 42 starts in four seasons. This campaign brought a career-high 560 receiving yards, marking his second 500-yard slate.
Okonkwo stands to do fairly well as a free agent, but the upcoming tight end class is rather crowded. While older cogs like Travis Kelce (should he return), Dallas Goedert and David Njoku are unsigned, second-contract-seeking TEs Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton are poised to be available.
Additionally, Arden Key said he would like to stay in Nashville. The veteran edge rusher noted (via ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport) a belief mutual interest in a re-signing exists. Key played out a three-year, $21MM deal. Arriving as a Harold Landry sidekick, Key outlasted the former Titans staple in Tennessee. The nomadic outside linebacker was mentioned in trade rumors but ultimately retained, finishing the season with four sacks in 12 games. Key (30 in May) combined for 12.5 sacks during two prior seasons as a Landry wingman, however.
There is a talent gap between Davis Mills and Will Levis
Both are meme-able though, for wildly different reasons.
Mills has developed well, but slowly for the Texans. Levis has more raw ability but needs more pocket awareness and disipline. The Titans have to find the right coaching for him but may trade him.
Davis Mills has settled in as Houston’s backup. Played the 2nd half vs. Indy when Jax was on its way to winning the AFC South.
Its easy to see Will Levis being a better QB than Cam Ward. So would be tough to throw him over MIA for a 7th round pick and see him do well. This kind of all comes down to narrative now. How often do I hear oh TN has their guy. They have their guy to build around. Well, he kind of is beyond terrible. But they use a #1 overall on him so maybe they have to believe he is THE guy, THEIR guy.
Levis is erratic as they say and has more you gotta be kidding me moments but his upside I think is a ton higher than Cam. He also was about to be a top 10 top 5 pick and slipped but think the grade out of college on Cam and Will could be similar. And Cam was that zero star guy going into college so maybe they had it right earlier.
Not comparing Will to Mahomes or Favre but a lot of the great ones had a QB whisperer. Joe Montana. Nice offensive gameplanners too. Will has not had that and he is probably that very raw guy who needs it desperately. Think he could excel with a guy who could effectively rein him in, like a Stefanski. Even a Kingsbury who maybe wont get the team in the playoffs but could help with the QB situation. So if they dont get the right offensive guy maybe let McDaniel fix him.
I don’t think Ward was beyond terrible. It was a rough start to begin the season for sure but he progressed alot from week 1 to the end of the season. The offensive line was not good despite spending in free agency, there was practically nothing of note for the skill positions. At least not a go to option, I like Ayomanor but he is not a #1 WR option but had to be this year. Ward is their guy, Levis can me become a decent backup with the right coaching but he is not a starter in my opinion.
Beyond terrible may have been a strong label. But my angle was Cam did not do well. Levis did not do well. But think their lack of success score was pretty similar. Each had a weak supporting cast. I am a Titans fan. And a longtime one. I am a Houston Oilers fan. Liked Warren Moon and the run and shoot with Givins and Jeffires and Hill in the 80s. So I just want them to win. If Cam Ward gave them the better shot, I’m all for Cam. I just feel like at this point in time Cam and Will give them a similar chance of winning. So hope Will is not completely dismissed and has a shot of winning the job. Dont think Cam has earned it yet.
I’m a Titans fan too. A little younger, I was born in the 80’s. Became a fan as a kid their last 2 or 3 years in Houston. I grew up in the era of Chris Chandler starting over McNair, I remember Chris Dishman, Lamar Lathon, Blaine Bishop was one of my favorites. Anyway, I saw enough of Levis that I can’t do it again haha. I have hope for Ward but admittedly I never liked Levis. Didn’t like him in college, was against the draft pick.
Okonkwo has big play talent and would be ideal for any talented passer, but I hope the Titans re-sign him while Helm also develops. Any continuity will help Ward, though they still need more talent at wide receiver. The offensive line as usual, has to be the first priority.
Levis’s style would seem to make sense as a backup to Cam but I think they probably want a vet with more experience for Cam to talk to.