SIERS: Levis’ decision leaves questions about Titans’ depth, vision

When the Tennessee Titans took Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, it was pretty clear the front office and coaching staff didn’t see 2023 second-rounder Will Levis as the future of the franchise.
On Monday, the Titans announced Levis has elected to have a season-ending shoulder surgery, set for later this month.
The injury stems from an AC joint injury suffered against Miami last season when he dove for a first down.
Ready or not, Cam Ward is going to be the guy in the 2025 season.
While a quarterback electing to have a surgery isn’t really a red flag in itself, this particular set of circumstances does generate questions.
Do the Titans see Ward as being ready?
If so, did that facilitate Levis’ decision to undergo surgery?
Following the draft, there was no indication from Levis or the Titans that a surgery would be in the forecast.
During OTAs, Levis never appeared to have any issues with his shoulder and was set to compete with Ward for the starting job.
If the decision was made in the front office and coaching staff that Ward would be the starter without a single snap taken during fall camp, what prompted the decision?
At this point, what led to the decision is fairly irrelevant—this is Cam Ward’s team now.
And now, the Titans are again in desperate need of quarterback depth.
As it sits now, it looks like Brandon Allen will back up Ward. but if one thing is for certain, quarterbacks taken first overall don’t have a great history of translating into immediate success.
In fact, quarterbacks thrust into the starting role before they’re ready often fall flat.
Just look back to 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, taken by the Carolina Panthers.
Young was put into the starting role for Carolina and simply looked lost his entire rookie season.
That season, Carolina went just 2-15 and Young completed a meager 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 yards and had 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
After a wholesale coaching staff change, new coach Dave Canales benched Young after two games into the 2024 season because it was more of the same, and leaned on veteran Andy Dalton.
While Dalton showed competency under center, a freak car accident left Dalton sidelined with a hand injury on his throwing arm, once gain bringing Young to the spotlight.
This time, after sitting for nearly a month, Young looked different and the game seemed to slow down for the sophomore quarterback.
The situation in Nashville with the Titans could be a similar situation, if Ward is forced to start out of necessity, rather than if he’s truly ready.
The test will be on Brian Callahan and the front office to make that call.
From a pure athleticism standpoint, it’s a no brainer that Ward is the starter.
But if Ward is forced to start with a patchwork roster that’s in the middle of a wholesale rebuild, the 2025 season could harm his overall development.
Titans fans will get their first look at Ward in the coming weeks as fall camp begins and the preseason kicks off.
The Titans will begin the 2025 preseason on August 9 at Tampa Bay.
Chris Siers is sports editor of the Bedford County Post. Email him at csiers@bedfordcountypost.com.