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The Tennessee Titans are potentially considering releasing their 2022 3rd round pick quarterback, Malik Willis, after just one season.
According to FOX Sports’ Ben Arthur, Willis, who was once considered a potential quarterback of the future for the Titans, is now deemed the odd man out with the presence of Ryan Tannehill and the recent addition of Will Levis to the roster.
The Titans have a history of not keeping three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and Arthur suggests that Willis will likely be the one to make way for Tannehill and Levis. In his analysis of the team’s post-draft 53-man roster projection, Arthur states that as long as Tannehill remains on the roster, Willis is unlikely to find a place on the team.
The recent selection of Will Levis in the second round of the 2023 draft further diminished Willis’ prospects as the team’s quarterback of the future.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Willis’ performance during the 2022 season was far from stellar. He endured a difficult run, which some argue contributed to the firing of former General Manager Jon Robinson. Turning 24 later this month, Willis may find himself needing to explore other options, such as a potential trade or seeking opportunities with other teams. Even if a trade involving Tannehill materializes in the near future, it seems unlikely that Willis will have a long-term future with the Titans.
The Titans’ lack of trust in Willis was evident when they benched him in favor of journeyman Joshua Dobbs late in the 2022 season, for an important game while Tannehill was injured. This decision further emphasized the organization’s reluctance to rely on Willis as their starting quarterback.
Despite his raw talent and athleticism, Willis has yet to fully develop as a quarterback. Although some mock drafts predicted him as a potential first-round pick leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, he fell to the third round. Now, after just one season with the Titans, it appears that he may be searching for a new team. However, there is still a chance that another team could view Willis as a project and give him an opportunity to showcase his skills and potential.
Ryan Tannehill Remains The Starter
In other Titans quarterback news, it has been confirmed that Ryan Tannehill will be the Week 1 starter for the team, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Despite previous speculation about the Titans potentially moving on from Tannehill and exploring trade options, no such deal materialized. As a result, Tannehill remains firmly entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season.
Update: QB Ryan Tannehill is the "Week 1 Starter" for the #Titans, per @diannaESPN
"This is his team, he's the guy."
There was a lot of speculation about the Titans moving on from Tannehill and even made calls to other teams about him but he remains their starter Week 1. pic.twitter.com/oFUDfK0r9u
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 10, 2023
The Titans’ decision to stick with Tannehill as their starter indicates their confidence in his abilities and leadership. With a renewed sense of stability at the quarterback position, the Titans will look to Tannehill to lead them to success in the upcoming season with rookie Will Levis sitting and learning from him.