QB Will Levis Out In Tennessee?
After the Titans utilized the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward last year, it was clear that Will Levis‘ time as a starter in Tennessee had likely come to an end. So far, in 2026, the Titans have added two more quarterbacks in free agency, and this time, there’s a chance it could spell the end of his time in Tennessee altogether.
Levis arrived in Nashville as a second-round pick out of Kentucky. He was selected in much the same manner as Malik Willis, who came out of the third round the prior year. Both young passers were being given a chance to stake out a role as the future at quarterback for the Titans in the dying days of Ryan Tannehill‘s NFL career. Willis had disappointed in a short sample size starting as a rookie, and Tennessee felt the need to bring in some added competition from the top few rounds of the draft.
After Tannehill got injured, a rookie Levis stepped up and, thanks to a four-touchdown game in his first start, looked like a promising option for the position moving forward. In nine games, Levis averaged about 200.9 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns to only four interceptions. When both Tannehill and Willis departed the next year, Levis was named the starter for 2024. An AC joint injury limited him to only 12 games, but Levis’ 13 touchdowns to 12 interceptions while averaging just 174.3 yards per game were a disappointing followup in his sophomore campaign, handing the Titans Ward at the top of the draft.
Before the 2025 season, Levis underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in July aimed at resolving an issue to prioritize his long-term health. With Levis out of the picture, the Titans signed veteran reserve options Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle, with Allen winning QB2 honors and backing up Ward during his rookie season. Allen boasted starting experience from his time filling in for an injured Joe Flacco on the 2019 Broncos then again the next year, when he started five games in place of an injured rookie Joe Burrow.
This offseason, the Titans signed two more new arms in free agency, inking veteran Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker to new deals. According to Jim Wyatt, a senior writer/editor for the Titans, Trubisky is not just coming in to serve as the veteran voice of experience in a young quarterbacks room, he’s coming to fill the QB2 role behind Ward.
That means two things for Levis. Either, he will compete with Hooker for the QB3 job and a likely spot on the practice squad, or he will be traded to another team that may want to give him more of a chance to play. In order to put him on the taxi squad, Levis will need to be subjected to the waiver wire, where any team would have the chance to claim him with the Titans getting nothing in return. Considering that, it makes far more sense for Tennessee to attempt to get something for Levis now before they need determine whether to risk him on the waiver wire or keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
One team that may be willing to trade for Levis is the Jets. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, New York could be looking to add a veteran backup before the draft, and a healthy Levis could be the perfect puzzle piece to their current roster. If the Titans determine that Levis is the odd man out in their quarterbacks room, offloading him to the Jets could be a best case scenario for all involved.
Florida DT Caleb Banks Up To Eight Pre-Draft Visits
Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks has already completed pre-draft visits with the Chiefs, Ravens, and Cardinals, per Zach Goodall of 247 Sports. Remaining on the docket are the Lions, Titans, Broncos, Falcons, and Chargers.
The 23-year-old flew up draft boards after an impressive performance at the Combine, which featured a 5.04-second 40-yard dash and a 9-foot-6 broad jump at 327 pounds. The hype around Banks cooled after a pre-draft visit revealed a foot fracture suffered the night before he took the field in Indianapolis. Testing well on a broken foot is impressive, but after Banks missed most of the 2025 season due to a foot injury, teams are understandably wary of using a top pick on him. Banks underwent surgery in mid-March and is expected to miss some of his first NFL offseason program.
Medical concerns are almost certainly the driver behind his busy schedule. Teams will need to be comfortable with the state of his foot, especially given the multiple injuries.
But as far as talent and long-term upside goes, Banks is up there with the top defensive prospects in the draft. He checks every physical box with a 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame with 35-inch arms. His power and athleticism overwhelmed most college offensive linemen and led to constant disruption in the trenches. Banks will need to shore up his technique in the NFL, where he will not be as much of a size outlier, but he has all the tools to succeed.
It remains to be seen if Banks’ injury will drop him out of the first round. Teams are certainly interested, and it only takes one to be comfortable enough with his foot to lock him down as early as possible.
OT Thayer Munford Visits Titans
The Titans are returning both of their starting tackles from last season – Dan Moore Jr. and JC Latham – but they lack a backup who can line up on both sides.
Former Patriots and Raiders lineman Thayer Munford might be able to fill that swing tackle role. He has played a majority of his career snaps at right tackle, but made four starts on the blind side in 2023. He
Munford visited the Titans this week, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson, though he left without agreeing to a deal. Tennessee may have been doing their medical diligence on the 26-year-old’s knee. He popped up on the injury report towards the end of the 2025 season and underwent surgery during the offseason, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Originally a seventh-round pick by the Raiders in 2022, Munford primarily served as the swing tackle in Las Vegas for the first three years of his career. Injuries to other players kept him on the field; he appeared in 36 games with 18 starts during that span. He was waived during final roster cuts in 2025 and signed a practice squad deal with the Patriots shortly after. After a two-month interlude with the Browns – which featured no playing time – Munford returned to New England in November.
Despite a more prominent role in Las Vegas, Munford primarily lined up as a sixth offensive lineman in the Patriots’ ‘jumbo’ packages in 2025. Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll does not typically feature such a player in his scheme, though he is certainly capable of introducing new wrinkles to his playbook.
The Titans will certainly be looking for offensive line help in the draft. They are in more immediate need of starting options at guard and center, so they may choose to spend their higher picks on interior lineman. Tennessee could still snag a developmental tackle on Days 2 or 3, but Munford could be a post-draft fallback, provided his knee checks out.
Cardinals, Titans, Chiefs Meet With LB Arvell Reese
The lack of quarterback depth in this year’s draft class has minimized potential trade-up talk, as the Raiders are all set to select Fernando Mendoza to open the draft. But some interesting pass-rushing prospects check in behind the Heisman winner in this year’s prospect pool.
While others are more accomplished rushers, Arvell Reese carries perhaps the biggest upside. That has led the Ohio State hybrid performer to be mocked to the Jets at No. 2 overall frequently. If the Jets are to determine Reese’s developmental track is not for them, other teams in the top 10 would await. A few are doing research on the standout linebacker.
We already heard of Reese meetings with the Jets, Giants, Saints and Cowboys. He has now also met with the Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Reese would fill needs in Arizona, Tennessee and Kansas City. The three-year Buckeyes cog is far from the only high-end pass-rushing prospect available, but he is probably the most unique player among this group.
As our Ben Levine noted in January, Reese mostly played linebacker last season at Ohio State. He only logged 97 snaps at the EDGE position in 2025 but still ranked seventh in Division I-FBS pressure rate (18.5%). Reese, who joins linebacker mate Sonny Styles (an ex-safety) in having some positional versatility, has expressed a preference to work as a pass rusher in the NFL. Considering his limited reps there, teams will need a clear plan to develop a high-ceiling prospect. But Micah Parsons‘ ascent will undoubtedly be on teams’ minds when evaluating Reese; Abdul Carter also turned a linebacker background into a No. 3 overall draft selection after moving to an EDGE role.
The Cardinals have been regularly given Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in mock drafts. The recent national championship game starter would fill a glaring right tackle need opposite Paris Johnson Jr., but the Cards could also use help opposite Josh Sweat on the edge. Arizona has a history of selecting hybrid linebacker types, though those choices came under previous GM Steve Keim. Still, the Cardinals drafted the likes of Deone Bucannon, Haason Reddick, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins and used each at multiple positions.
A veteran evaluator recently informed SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora that Reese will be at his best in a 3-4 EDGE role. Neither the Chiefs nor Titans use that scheme, creating some questions about his fit. Though, any team that drafts Reese — thanks to the proliferation of nickel and dime sets — will regularly use him as an edge rusher in a four-man front. The Chiefs and Titans will just use that as their base defense.
Kansas City finished with just 25 sacks last season and has Chris Jones going into an age-32 season. The team, which has not seen 2023 first-round defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah show much, needs help opposite D-end George Karlaftis. The Titans hired Robert Saleh as HC and have seen him bring in four former Jets defensive linemen this offseason. Tennessee may still need a rusher opposite trade pickup Jermaine Johnson, however.
Titans Sign RB Michael Carter
The Titans have made three signings, per reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN: Running back Michael Carter and wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Lance McCutcheon have all inked deals with the team.
The 26-year-old Carter will reunite with head coach Robert Saleh, whom he played under in New York over his first two-plus NFL seasons. The Jets used a 2021 fourth-round pick on Carter, who had his most productive season as a rookie. Carter set career highs in carries (147), rushing yards (639) and touchdowns (four) over 14 games that year. He also chipped in 36 catches for 325 yards.
Carter started in 10 of 16 appearances in his second season, though he ran for just 402 yards on 114 attempts (3.5 YPC). The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder posted a personal-high 41 receptions, but with Breece Hall returning from a knee injury in 2003, Carter fell out of favor. The Jets cut him after he accrued a mere nine carries in eight games.
After the Jets moved on from Carter, he landed in Arizona and wound up spending the past two-plus years there. Carter did not take on a significant role, however, as he totaled only 149 carries, 613 yards (4.1 YPC) and two TDs in 22 games with the Cardinals.
Heading to Tennessee, Carter will join Tyjae Spears, Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut as backups behind Titans starter Tony Pollard. However, the Titans may soon make a much bigger addition to their backfield in Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, whom they could draft fourth overall. Tennessee is considered a strong possibility to select Love, who visited the team last month.
Now 28, Osborn had a highly productive stretch as a Justin Jefferson complement in Minnesota from 2021-23. Osborn missed just one game in that span and averaged 53 catches, 615 catches and five TDs per season. But Osborn’s stock has plummeted since he combined for a meager seven receptions for 57 yards in eight games between New England and Washington in 2024. Osborn finished last season on the Falcons’ practice squad, but he did not get into a game.
McCutcheon, 27, was on and off the Titans’ taxi squad in 2025. After seeing no game action, McCutcheon announced his retirement earlier this offseason, per Rapoport. He has since had a change of heart, though, and will compete for a spot on the Titans’ roster. His only appearances came in 2022 as a member of the Rams, with whom he played 10 games and recorded 166 snaps (110 on special teams, 56 on offense). The former UDFA from Montana State has never caught a pass in the NFL.
Titans To Sign QB Hendon Hooker
The Titans are adding some quarterback depth behind Cam Ward. Former Lions third-round pick Hendon Hooker is headed to Tennessee, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Hooker, 28, was selected with the No. 68 pick in the 2023 draft after tearing his ACL in his final season at Tennessee. He spent most of his rookie season rehabbing in the hopes of taking over as Jared Goff‘s backup in 2024.
Hooker beat out Nate Sudfeld for Detroit’s QB2 job during training camp. He closed out three blowout wins – his only regular-season action to date – but the Lions reunited with Teddy Bridgewater in December as a more proven insurance policy in advance of the postseason. The move was indicative of the team’s lack of confidence on Hooker if Goff were to miss any time.
The Lions put Hooker on notice by signing Kyle Allen to compete for the backup gig last spring. During training camp, head coach Dan Campbell made it clear that Hooker had not developed in Detroit as the team hoped. That foreshadowed his release during roster cut-downs after a rough preseason that featured five turnovers, 4.7 yards per attempt, and a 55% completion rate.
Hooker spent time with the Panthers and Jets last season as they contended with injuries in their quarterback rooms, though he did not appear in a game. Now, he returns to the state in which he played college ball, though his new team is located in Nashville, not Knoxville.
The Titans already have Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis as depth behind Ward. Trubisky is clearly the backup after signing a two-year deal with $6.8MM guaranteed. That will leave Levis as Hooker’s competition for a back-end roster or practice squad spot.
Levis is in the final year of his rookie contract. He struggled mightily in his first two seasons and missed last season due to a summer injury. Journeyman Brandon Allen was tapped for the 49 snaps Ward missed as a rookie. The addition of Hooker suggests that the Titans are open to moving on from Levis, a second-round pick made by since-fired GM Ran Carthon. Trade rumors followed Levis around the 2025 draft; it is quite possible they reemerge this month, though the former No. 33 overall pick has certainly lost value since his rookie season.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth, and weeks remain until this year’s deadline. In the meantime, we will use the space below to track all the 2027 option decisions from around the league:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): To be exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): To be exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM)
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM)
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM)
- DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders ($14.48MM)
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM)
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM)
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM)
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM)
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM)
- DE Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM)
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM)
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): To be exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM)
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): To be exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM)
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM)
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised*
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM)
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): To be exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): To be exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM)
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): To be exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM)
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): To be exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM)
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM)
- DE Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM)
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($13.75MM)
* = Seahawks gave Smith-Njigba four-year, $168.6MM extension
AFC Contract Details: Titans, Hawkins, Ravens, Flacco, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Colts, Patriots
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the AFC, with many coming out of Nashville:
- Daniel Bellinger, TE (Titans). Three years, $24MM. Bellinger secured $14MM guaranteed at signing, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. This covers $4.91MM of Bellinger’s $5.94MM 2027 base salary, per OverTheCap.
- Jaylinn Hawkins, S (Ravens). Two years, $10MM. Hawkins landed $5MM guaranteed at signing, per Wilson. None of Hawkins’ 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Jacob Martin, DE (Titans). Two years, $9MM. Tennessee authorized $4.5MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. None of Martin’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Jordan Elliott, DT (Titans). Two years, $8MM. The Titans authorized a $3.24MM guarantee at signing for the former Browns and 49ers D-tackle, Wilson tweets. None of Elliott’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Austin Schlottmann, OL (Titans). Two years, $7MM. The veteran interior offensive lineman received $2.99MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets. None of Schlottmann’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Joshua Williams, CB (Titans). Two years, $6.75MM. Like Elliott, Wilson adds Williams secured $3.24MM guaranteed at signing. One of several Chiefs DBs relocating this month, Williams will not see any 2027 guarantees on this deal.
- Joe Flacco, QB (Bengals). One year, $6MM. Flacco’s contract contains $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Jay Morrison notes. Generally against void years, the Bengals included two in this contract. Flacco’s cap hit will check in at $3.3MM as a result. Due to the void years, Flacco not being re-signed before the 2027 league year begins will result in a $2.7MM dead money charge. There are $3.5MM in incentives here, Morrison adds. Among the bottom-tier bumps in play, Flacco would see $1MM if he plays 60% of Cincinnati’s offensive snaps in a playoff season. If the Bengals do not make the playoffs and the 19th-year QB plays 60% of the snaps, he would see $250K. More notably, any Bengals win in which Flacco plays at least 60% of the snaps will bring $125K; this incentive has an eight-game cap.
- Durham Smythe, TE (Ravens). One year, $3MM. The former Dolphins and Bears tight end secured $2MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.
- Daniel Thomas, S (Browns). Two years, $3MM. Thomas landed just more than $1MM fully guaranteed, according to Wilson. No guarantees are in place for 2027.
- Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (Colts). One year, $2.73MM. This contract includes $1.5MM fully guaranteed, Wilson adds.
- Mo Alie-Cox, TE (Colts). One year, $2.59MM. Like the Lions’ Malcolm Rodriguez deal, this contract is a four-year qualifying offer. It will come with $2.19MM fully guaranteed, Wilson adds. Because this is a four-year qualifying contract, Alie-Cox will count just $1.4MM toward the Colts’ cap.
- Tony Adams, S (Titans). One year, $2.14MM. Among the many former Robert Saleh-era Jets joining the Titans this offseason, Adams will see $1MM fully guaranteed on this deal (via Wilson).
- Kalia Davis, DT (Browns). One year, $2MM. The veteran interior D-lineman secured $1.75MM guaranteed at signing, according to Wilson.
- Corey Bojorquez, P (Browns). One year, $2MM. Bojorquez will see $938K guaranteed at signing on his third Browns contract, according to Wilson.
- Tycen Anderson, S (Broncos). One year, $1.5MM. The only outside Broncos free agent signing thus far, the veteran special-teamer received $650K guaranteed, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.
- James Hudson, T (Patriots). One year, $1.4MM. The Giants jettisoned Hudson’s two-year, $12MM deal months after benching him in Week 2. The New England swing tackle secured $538K guaranteed at signing, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets.
DE Rueben Bain Jr. Visits Titans
The Titans hosted Miami edge rusher and projected first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. for a pre-draft visit this week, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
Bain, 21, is among the more polarizing prospects in this year’s class. He has posted elite production over the last three years (20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss), with almost half coming in his 2025 All-American campaign. However, his 30.825-inch arms are well below NFL standards for the position, raising concerns about his ability to translate his production to the pros.
However, Bain’s power and pass rushing profile are undeniably appealing. He logged a 23.5% pass rush win rate and a 92.4 pass rushing grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) last year, displaying an array of moves and a relentless desire to get to opposing quarterbacks. That has kept him in the conversation for a top-10, or even top-five, pick in April.
The Titans hold the No. 4 selection and need a young, high-upside edge rusher opposite recent trade acquisition Jermaine Johnson. Bain is best as a ‘hand-in-the-dirt’ 4-3 defensive end than as a standing outside linebacker in a 3-4, which requires more athleticism and versatility. That makes him an excellent fit for Robert Saleh‘s system that rarely asks defensive linemen to drop into coverage and instead encourages them to pin their ears back and attack the backfield. Bain’s physical play style, attack-oriented mentality, and dedication to his game are all major pluses, especially for a new coaching staff looking to establish their own culture in Tennessee.
RB Jeremiyah Love At Top Of Giants’ List?
Drafting running backs early in the first round is back in style. Ashton Jeanty went at No. 6 last year, and in 2023, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went eighth and 12th overall, respectively. This year’s draft is expected to add another name to the list. 
The running back most likely to continue this trend in 2026 is Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love. Tennessee has been a popular projection, as both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are in the final years of their contracts. However, as ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came up in a Chiefs front office that prioritized premium positions with premium draft picks. Taking a running back with the No. 4 pick – especially with needs at more valuable positions – would fly in the face of that philosophy.
If the Titans pass on Love, he will likely wind up in New York, according to Reid’s colleague, Matt Miller. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh may not have such qualms about Love’s position with more of an emphasis on his game-changing talent. He consistently prioritized a strong ground game in Baltimore, though the Ravens never drafted a running back in the first-round during his tenure.
Were New York to choose him, Love would immediately have the best draft pedigree of anyone in the Giants’ running backs room. Veteran Devin Singletary currently holds that honor as a former third-round pick out of FAU. Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy were fifth-round picks in back-to-back years for New York, in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Singletary and Gray are also set to play on the final years of their contracts. Combined with last year’s fourth-round rookie, Cam Skattebo, there are plenty of mouths to feed, but inserting Love into the room immediately would change the outlook for the current players’ roles in the room.
If running back isn’t the answer in New York, the team’s top decision makers could start the trend for another position that isn’t notoriously taken early on Day 1. Harbaugh was part of a large contingent that attended the Ohio State Pro Day on Wednesday. It was notable enough to see Harbaugh there, given he hasn’t frequented many pro days in recent years, but in Columbus, Harbaugh, team owner Chris Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, and player personnel director Tim McDonnell all showed up to evaluate Buckeyes, and Harbaugh was seen getting some face time with standout safety Caleb Downs, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The highest a safety has ever been drafted was second overall in 1991, when Eric Turner‘s name was called by the Browns. Since then, only two other safeties have even been drafted in the top five picks of the draft, Sean Taylor in 2004 and Eric Berry in 2010. Downs could be the next to join that list if the Giants decide to write his name down a month from now. Harbaugh’s defenses in Baltimore almost always featured strong safety play from names like Ed Reed, Eric Weddle, and Kyle Hamilton. Downs may be just the man to upgrade Big Blue’s defensive outfield in 2026.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.