NASHVILLE, Tenn. – We have not opened the mailbag in some time, so I am emptying that baby out.
I urge you to check out this week’s pod as well as reading the mail. Please find all the links to it here.
Here's hoping your brackets are holding up well and you are having a big weekend. Thanks for your continued support.
Robert Draper On the QB situation: assuming the Titans draft Ward, does it appear to you that they intend for Levis & Allen to battle it out for the backup slot (as opposed to just releasing Levis)? And if Levis were to win that competition, what are the pros/cons of letting Levis start the first few games while Cam develops versus baptizing Cam by fire in game 1?
It all depends on Cam Ward's readiness. If they feel like he needs some time and would benefit from watching some, then they may slow-play it. But if he's got an immediate comfort level where they feel like he can handle it all, they will drop him right in. It won't have anything at all to do with Levis in that once Ward is in-house the entire franchise will revolve around him.
The guy Green Bay had Jordan Love sitting behind when Chad Brinker was there was one of a kind, And the Alex Smith-to-Patrick Mahomes transition in Kansas City was spectacularly plotted out and executed. The Titans are not going to be in either of those situations.
Elaine Hamilton Where is “NPF released” and “Nick folk signed to 1-year deal” news? Thirteen kickers were free agents and only four have had their situations resolved. So Nick Folk isn’t behind schedule based on what’s going on around the league.
Nicholas Petit-Frere was a big failure last season, and I can’t envision him on the 2025 team. But he doesn’t cost the Titans anything before opening day, so maybe they keep him around as camp depth and for fourth-quarter preseason play. Maybe they let him go when they restock a bit with undrafted rookies.
Might the Titans use the 2nd or 3rd day of the 2025 draft to address last season’s historically bad Special Teams? Corners, WRs, LBs? Or will the team rely more on a coach who presumably knows what he’s doing?
— Nikoloz Tskitishviliness (@NikolozTskitis1) March 20, 2025
Most backup or developmental players, by nature, need to be special teamers early in their career. John Fassel was at the combine, a part of things to help assess just those qualities.
I’d expect the draft picks from the fourth round on to include guys who are generally more skilled at special teams, and for Fassel to help guys he inherits to be better at executing things they are more clearly coaches to do.
Heath Is this a reasonable plan? Draft Cam, play Levis and try to build him and his trade value up for next year. Brinker and Borgonzi come from organizations that have sat QB’s their first year. I feel like Green Bay would draft and develop and try to trade them.
Here are the quarterbacks the Packers have drafted in the last 15 years:
2024 seventh-round Michael Pratt
2020 first-round Jordan Love
2012 seventh-round BJ Coleman
Coleman played no NFL games and Pratt was waived in late August last year. He spent most of the season on the Tampa Bay practice squad and was active for three games.
There is no modern evidence of the Packers A) trading up to pick a shaky QB like Levis in the second round or B) Spending a higher pick to replace such a QB, then playing him to try to heighten his value and then trading him with built-up trade value.
If the Titans draft Cam Ward and decide to sit him as a rookie, it will be because they think that’s what is best for Ward, not as part of any plan to increase Levis’ worth.
What are the Titans doing with Treylon Burks after letting our top TD scoring and most QB friendly WR walk ? 😒
— Durag Edmond (@LordSteeZington) March 20, 2025
He doesn’t cost them anything until opening day.
I think he could be in camp, they see where his ACL recovery is, he gets one last chance to show something. Maybe they just have to get him healthy there to cut him.
If they really fill in the spot with a couple of picks and a veteran, they could be done with him sooner. But they are obligated to rehabilitate him.
Not football related: Did you fill out a bracket and if so who’s your pick to win it all?
— Rowdy G Cole (@Rowdy_TTBN) March 21, 2025
BYU over St. Johns
Ryan Will If the front office is planning to run it back with Levis, would that mean Callahan is safe until he get to try with his guy?
I think they are less concerned with “his” guy and more concerned with “their” guy. No matter what they do at quarterback this season, the organization expects improvement from Brian Callahan and expects better results than they got during the 3-14 season that landed them the No. 1 pick.
If they do not get that, Callahan’s going to be in trouble whether he’s got a guy we perceiver as “his” quarterback or not.
What does your gut tell you about our new gm?
— forest (@ToddFaircloth3) March 20, 2025
First off, given how dysfunctional the Titans have become, my gut tells me to be skeptical of everything the Titans do and everyone who does it.
On Mike Borgonzi, it says wait and see what the people he brings in do on the grass in meaningful games.
I refuse to think that Levis is not an NFL-caliber starter. I can see him developing like Sam Darnold. Last year, new coach, bad play calling, not enough run plays called and bad offensive line. With the additions to the offensive line, does Will deserve another chance?
— Blk_in_portlandia (@BPortlandia) March 20, 2025
No one deserves anything. They all have to earn it. Has he earned it? Not through what he’s done to this point, no. Could he earn it? It depends on who else is on the roster. If Cam Ward is on the roster, it’s unlikely Will Levis is earning another chance to start.
Sam Darnold had a breakout season in Year 7. Levis would need to be on quite an accelerated path to be Sam Darnold in 2025, if he gets a chance to play.
