New team emerges as potential landing spot for Sam Darnold

Not seeing their Will Levis plan work out, the Titans have to chart a path to finding a better option. The team has an interesting dilemma, holding the No. 1 overall pick in a draft not flush with QB talent. In fact, teams may be determining only one passer will be worth taking near the top of the first round.

As Cam Ward continues to build a lead on Shedeur Sanders for the slot as this draft’s top quarterback, the Titans first must determine how much they want to spend on a free agent. Which way Tennessee goes in free agency could determine if it wants a first-round quarterback, as rumblings about the team being eager to move out of No. 1 persist.

Several teams could use at least a bridge quarterback, but Sam Darnold may be eyeing a fit that goes beyond well-paid stopgap. The Titans are believed to have interest in Darnold, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Turron Davenport, but at a price. The team wants the Vikings Pro Bowler at around $30M per year, but may not be interested in going beyond that range. Pointing further to the Titans setting a price on Darnold, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes the team should be expected to bow out if the market becomes too extreme. Baker Mayfield‘s $33M-per-year contract surfaced as a potential Darnold zone, though the cap having climbed by $24M may make that more of a floor.

PFR’s No. 1 free agent of the 2025 class, Darnold is going into his age-28 season. The former top-three pick did not receive a Vikings franchise tag, and while Minnesota is interested in retaining him at a rate south of the $40.2M tag, leaving him unattached opens the door to an exit. As the Vikings remain committed to J.J. McCarthy, Darnold could bolt for a situation that does not feature an immediate challenger. Of course, he would have no way of being certain — as Kirk Cousins learned last year — the team he signs with will not immediately draft a QB. Although, the Falcons’ situation — where a $90M QB guarantee preceded a top-10 draftee at the position — was historically rare.

Options like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and perhaps Cousins — if the Falcons relent on their current stance to keep him as a backup — would be cheaper than Darnold, but the Titans having interest is notable, as it adds another known suitor for a player who has been connected to the Vikings, Giants, Raiders and Browns. Where the bidding goes will be one of this offseason’s defining storylines, as Tennessee ending up with Darnold could influence them to draft Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at No. 1.

The Titans have received trade offers, with the Giants being the team most closely connected to a move up. Given the lack of prospect firepower in this draft, Fowler and Davenport doubt a future first-rounder would be required in a 3-to-1 move for New York. Ward has support in the Titans’ building, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. This could be a smokescreen aimed at bringing the Giants to offer more for the pick, but we will not have a clearer outlook on the Titans’ QB plans until after the initial free agency blitz next week.

While the team is still deciding its draft plan, Fowler and Davenport indicate Ward would be the likely pick as of now. The team believed the Miami prospect checked all the boxes during his Combine meeting, though his upcoming visit and pro day will be more telling. Team president Chad Brinker was at November’s Miami-Georgia Tech game, however. Ward, Sanders and Carter are visiting this week, while Fowler and Davenport adds Hunter’s Nashville trip is postponed to later this month.

Neither Ward nor Sanders have wowed as prospects, despite the former’s momentum. Ranking all the 2020s first-round QBs as prospects, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller slotted Ward 18th (behind last year’s sixth QB drafted, Bo Nix) and Sanders 20th — ahead of only Kenny Pickett. Scouts at the Combine believe Ward has separated from Sanders, per SNY’s Connor Hughes, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline adding the Colorado prospect’s perceived lack of improvement — along with the baggage the second-generation NFL prospect brings — has hurt his stock.

We have heard for a while this is a down QB draft and that a Ward-over-Sanders preference was forming, but if a gap grows between the two QBs, a club desperate to land Ward may increase its offer to the Titans for No. 1. No surprise prospect is expected to leapfrog the four front-runners for No. 1, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds. If the Titans stay at 1, they would choose Ward, Sanders, Hunter or Carter. That elevates the importance of the March “30” visits.

New GM Mike Borgonzi was in Kansas City when the team held the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. In a down QB draft, the Chiefs instead traded two second-rounders to the 49ers for Alex Smith. Reid’s first Kansas City starter stayed five seasons, with the Chiefs trading up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The Chiefs chose Eric Fisher first overall in 2013, building around Smith for a while.

Borgonzi and Brinker would have the chance to take a similar route if they chose Carter or Hunter at No. 1 after signing a veteran. Ward’s status throws a wrench into that plan, as no 2013 passer rivaled where Ward is as a prospect. The Titans’ decision next week will represent an important part of this year’s pre-draft process.

If the Titans go with a veteran-rookie two-fer this year, Levis’ future with the team may be in doubt. Two years remain on the disappointing second-rounder’s deal. Levis’ backup/replacement, Mason Rudolph, is a free agent once again. The Titans are open to bringing back the ex-Steeler, Borgonzi said at the NFL Scouting Combine. Rudolph signed a one-year, $2.87M deal last year and would be unlikely to fetch much more than that this year.