Will Levis opens up about uncertain Titans future amid Aaron Rodgers chatter

The Tennessee Titans benching second-year quarterback Will Levis was hardly a surprise considering he was pulled from this past Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals after he tossed three interceptions and lost a fumble in that outing. 

Levis spoke with reporters on Wednesday and indicated he understands he could have a new NFL home by the time training camp practices begin next summer. 

"I know that there’s a positive future for me whether it’s here or somewhere else, and I’ve just got to go and have the conversations I need to here, and hopefully I can show and prove that I can still be the guy," Levis said, as shared by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. 

A 2023 second-round draft pick, Levis flashed some promise as a rookie but experienced more downs than ups as the 2024 Titans fell to 3-11. According to Pro Football Reference, the 25-year-old began Thursday ranked 33rd in the NFL with a 30.2 adjusted QBR, 30th with a 79.8 passer rating and 32nd with a 36.4% passing success rate. Over 11 games, he recorded 12 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. 

"I still believe that I can be a franchise quarterback for this team," Levis said on Wednesday. "I have the utmost confidence in myself and my ability to lead any team in this league. I think this year was great development for me, and I think I truly did improve. I sure as heck don’t want to go out like that."

On Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler mentioned that he could "see a scenario in which the Titans continue to develop Levis this offseason, given the team might be picking in the back half of the top 10 in what's considered a weaker QB class." Later in that article, Fowler linked the Titans with none other than current New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Many expect that Jets owner Woody Johnson will move on from Rodgers when the new league year opens in March. 

Rodgers reportedly was "open" to joining the Titans in February 2022 when he was still with the Green Bay Packers. Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, Rodgers said on Wednesday he'd "mentor the hell out of" a rookie if the Jets asked the future Hall of Famer to return. Perhaps the 41-year-old would be willing to share a quarterback room with Levis through January 2026. 

"It happens to some of the best quarterbacks in the history of this game," Levis added about his demotion, per Turron Davenport of ESPN. 

How Levis responds to the benching through Week 18 could determine if his Tennessee tenure ultimately lasts longer than two seasons.