The Tennessee Titans have made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons with quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing a significant part in that success. But with Tannehill turning 34 this summer and the rest of the AFC accumulating talent, the Titans looked ahead to the franchise’s future at quarterback.
The Titans drafted Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the third round, setting up a quarterback competition that Tannehill probably didn’t expect. And while Tannehill did call Willis after the draft to congratulate the young QB, he doesn’t think it’ll be his responsibility to mentor Willis. Tannehill’s looking to compete for the job instead.
Tannehill spoke about the Willis selection in a Tuesday press conference. He said via ProFootballTalk:
“That’s part of being in a quarterback room, in the same room — we’re competing against each other, we’re watching the same tape, we’re doing the same drills. I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him. But if he learns from me along the way, then that’s a great thing.”
He also said that he wasn’t informed of the team’s plans to draft a quarterback.
Ryan Tannehill on Malik Willis: pic.twitter.com/FHNrNs3feY
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) May 3, 2022
Every quarterback takes a different approach to when his apparent replacement gets selected. And some players — Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, for example — don’t exactly rush to hand over the keys to the starting job.
There might not be the same urgency with Willis as there would have been if he were a first-round pick, but it will be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out in Tennessee.
