What kind of season can Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis have in 2024?
One NFL analyst named five hypothetical scenarios that could turn the 2024 season on its head. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder says Levis having a Carson Wentz-like second season could be one of those scenarios.
Before you read that and panic, remember that Carson Wentz looked like he was on the verge of superstardom in 2017.
Wentz was on the verge of being named the NFL MVP in 2017 before injuring his knee in a Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams. His career has never been the same since.
Before the injury, Wentz completed 60% of his passes for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 299 yards. He would later sign an extension with the Eagles, who traded him to the Indianapolis Colts after the 2020 season. The Colts couldn’t wait to get rid of Wentz after one season, and, foolishly, then-Washington head coach Ron Rivera traded valuable picks for Wentz.
He started just seven games for the Commanders, who cut him after one season. He spent part of last season with the Rams as a backup and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason to serve as Patrick Mahomes’ backup.
So, why did Holder make this comparison? Here are his thoughts:
Not much is expected of the Tennessee Titans this season as DraftKings Sportsbook has the line for the team’s win total set at 6.5 and its odds of winning the AFC South at +1000, the worst in the division.
A big reason for that is the uncertainty surrounding Titans quarterback Will Levis.
The 25-year-old showed a few moments of brilliance as a rookie but was inconsistent, tossing just eight touchdowns in nine games and averaging a little more than 200 yards per outing. That’s similar to Carson Wentz’s debut campaign in 2016, which was up and down as he had 16 touchdowns in 16 games and 236.4 yards per outing.
However, the Philadelphia Eagles QB exploded in year two and likely would have been the NFL MVP had he not suffered a devastating injury in the final month of the season. As it was, he finished third in the voting and earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
There’s reason to believe Levis could be on the same trajectory as both quarterbacks have similar skill sets with big arms and decent athleticism. Also, the Titans have a good receiving corps this year with DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to go along with a Bill Callahan-coached offensive line to support the young quarterback.
Mix that in with a defense that features Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry III in the trenches along with L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Roger McCreary at cornerback, and Tennessee could be a sneaky contender in the AFC South with good quarterback play.
When you look at Levis, you can see why someone could make this comparison. He and Wentz are of similar size, with similar arm strength. While Levis is a better athlete, Wentz was a much better athlete in 2017 than most realize.
It’s safe to say the Titans would be elated if Levis has a similar season as Wentz did in 2017. It would be up to Levis, head coach Brian Callahan and others to ensure that the quarterback’s career didn’t fall off like Wentz’s did.