Insider predicts when Titans' Will Levis may unseat Ryan Tannehill

One insider has predicted when the Tennessee Titans could bench veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill in favor of rookie Will Levis during the 2023 NFL season.

"The Titans have already said Tannehill will be their Week 1 starter, but a change to Levis around midseason (maybe Week 8 or so) would make sense if the Tennessee offense struggles," Turron Davenport of ESPN explained for a piece published Wednesday. "The Week 7 bye after traveling to London to face the (Baltimore Ravens) could give the coaching staff time to get Levis comfortable." 

Coming off that extended break, Tennessee hosts an Atlanta Falcons team in Week 8 that may use much of next season largely to determine what it has and/or doesn't have in 2022 third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder. The Falcons named the unproven Ridder their starting quarterback in March and have given zero indication they're changing their minds about that decision this summer. 

Tannehill is currently atop the Tennessee depth chart, followed by 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis and then Levis. However, multiple reports this spring have mentioned that the Titans are, at the very least, not sold on holding onto Willis. Add in that Tannehill turns 35 years old in July and is in the final year of his contract, and it would make sense for Tennessee to contemplate going to Levis if the club is 2-4 or worse heading into the Week 7 bye. 

Meanwhile, ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid pointed out he believes Levis is a great fit for the Titans because they run "the exact type of offense that Levis flourished in during his breakout 2021 season" with the Kentucky Wildcats. 

For what it's worth, it remains possible that the Titans could shop Tannehill and save $27M against the salary cap by moving on from him after June 1. For Tennessee to even consider such a transaction, though, Levis first would have to prove to be a revelation ready to serve as the Week 1 starter by the final day of August.