The Tennessee Titans are doing everything possible to set second-year quarterback Will Levis up for success. After an up-and-down rookie season in which he took over for Ryan Tannehill, Levis is now the unquestioned starter.
The Titans will be looking for the former 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to establish himself as a franchise quarterback. If he succeeds, Levis could find his way into the NFL’s Most Valuable Player conversation.
Will Brinson of CBS Sports recently published his “2024 NFL MVP predictions.” He has Levis at 150-1 preseason odds of taking home the prestigious award.
Levis is a REAL long shot, but I think his number is better than most. Perhaps you read the glowing Tuscan Castle-filled breakdown of Levis game from our own Pete Prisco? Levis also has a new coaching staff and I’m bullish on Brian Callahan, especially since he brought his dad Bill along with him to Tennessee. That development should help the run game in a massive way, as should the addition of Tony Pollard along with Tajae Spears in the backfield. Tennessee’s OL isn’t in great shape, but picking up J.C. Latham in the draft is massive. The Titans also went out and splurged on Calvin Ridley in free agency. Pairing him with DeAndre Hopkins and then adding Tyler Boyd gives them a really nice, complementary veteran wideout group. Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle are sneaky tight end options. The AFC South is a tough division, but it’s at least gettable. Levis has the arm, no question. And even though he fell to the second round, he might have the pedigree too. He’s been endorsed by Peyton Manning and he was at one point considered a top-five pick in the draft before his dip. Maybe he takes a massive leap in his second year and leads the Titans to a division title.
For all the reasons that Brinson notes, Levis should, in theory, have a promising sophomore campaign. The Titans have added notable weapons on both sides of the ball, which should only help their quarterback maintain possession—longer drives, more points on offense, and shorter drives, fewer points on defense.
Whether that translates into the win column remains to be seen.
The Titans will give their starters a few series in their final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. In his only action thus far, Levis has guided Tennessee to two touchdown drives against the San Francisco 49ers.
The MVP award has historically been given to players on top teams in the National Football League. The Titans may not achieve that this year. Heck, they may not even have a winning record.
But as long as Levis takes the necessary measures to show that he is the long-term answer under center, that is a major win for the Titans in the 2024 NFL season.
