[FREE] The Clock Starts NOW for Will Levis
Will Levis has two premier wide receivers, a new center, and more to come. The clock starts now on if he truly is the Tennessee Titans franchise QB.
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Coming off a disappointing, but somewhat expected down season that saw the Titans finish 6-11 and at the bottom of the AFC South, everyone knew changes had to be made.
A roster that once routinely overachieved, looked lifeless, devoid of talent, and in need of a massive rebuild after multiple years of failed draft classes and free agent signings.
An offense that once took the league by storm, was nothing more than an eyesore now, with quarterback questions and personnel issues galore. And a defense that always found ways to compete despite injuries, couldn’t overcome its depth issues and collapsed as a result.
Ran Carthon knew all of this had to change, he knew he had to change it fast or whispers of poor performance — fair or unfair — would grow louder and louder.
So he made a plan, a plan to inject some spots with talent, while saving the rest for the upcoming NFL Draft.
A plan to switch the narrative surrounding the team, to give the entire country a look at the brand new Titans after the Mike Vrabel era. A plan to take free agency by its neck and strangle the life out of it until he couldn’t squeeze out any ounce of life.
So far, the plan has started off right, with multiple key signings being reported on, all filling spots that had gaping holes when the offseason began. While also setting up this team for an exciting conclusion to an offseason many believed to be the biggest for the team in recent memory.
But before you start celebrating and calling this quickfire roster rebuild a success, we still have to witness whether the most important piece can hold up his end of the bargain.
And that piece is none other than Will Levis.
Levis is by no means safe, or in other words, officially known as the quarterback of the future for the Tennessee Titans.
His rookie year was alright, good if you want to be a little more aggressive with the wording. He made the most out of a pretty messed up situation, with a poor offensive environment around him and a head coach that didn’t want to budge from his way of doing things.
He had some moments as well, more notably his first career start that included a barrage of touchdown passes, and a miraculous comeback win against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
But aside from that, there weren’t a lot of moments that made you stare at the TV, let the bright shine of the screen burn your corneas, and think to yourself that the Titans have found their next franchise guy.
Now this isn’t some piece meant to slander a rookie that just concluded his first NFL season.
I for one hold the opinion that he has some very exciting perks that could make for an extremely exciting player and a polarizing figure in a city that’ll give their all for you, if you simply give your all for them.
However, this is a bit of a bulletin that serves the purpose of explaining why Levis’ next steps are extremely important, for the context of his own career and Ran Carthon’s plan leading to glory or all out pain and agony.
You see, we’re at a stage where Carthon has laid the cards out on the table.
He’s reportedly agreed to a deal with the best receiver on the market in Calvin Ridley, he’s expected to wrap up an agreement with the best center on the market in Lloyd Cushenberry, he’s reportedly targeting multiple veterans with experience to make the first year process as soothing as possible for Brian Callahan, and he has his eyes set on a draft that should conclude with the Titans walking away with a blue chip prospect and depth to follow.
Once that whirlwind of action ends, the clock will officially start on the Titans and their trek towards a season that’ll surely be filled with optimism and hope….and the clock will officially start on Will Levis and his three year audition, one that’ll determine whether the Titans shell out the big bucks for his services over the long term.
No pressure, right?
As it always is, players taken after the first round don’t receive a 5th year option.
With Levis being a former 2nd rounder, the same applies to him. He won’t get five years to convince Amy Adams Strunk to make him the posterboy of the franchise. He’ll get four, now three maximum cracks at it with his rookie year in the rearview mirror.
Carthon is going to make sure Levis has every opportunity to pass the test. It’s the reason why he’s going on a mass hunt in free agency to speed run the process a bit and accelerate the time necessary to build out a quarterback friendly roster.
It won’t be perfect, but if it all pans out, Levis should have a good amount of time to present his case and show whether the Titans can trust him to become the franchise’s face.
At that point, it’’ll all be up to Levis and whether he can build upon the foundation he set in 2023.
Maybe it’s not the wisest thing to throw loads of pressure like this. But that’s life for a young NFL quarterback desperate to show he belongs to stay for the long run.
The clock has started for Levis and it’s ticking away, taking away a second as we speak. Will Levis prove he can be the guy, be the long term answer this franchise has been looking for since the last days of Steve McNair.
Or will he just be another blip on the radar, a scene far too common for this franchise over the last decade and some change?
The result is up to Levis himself. He should have the map if it pans out the way Ran Carthon has set up.
All Levis has to do now is find the treasure and bask in his riches.
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