Cam Ward is entrenched as the Titans starter entering 2026. Now, the Titans must develop him. Meanwhile, Will Levis’ future in Tennessee is another question to be answered. TERRY MCCORMICK

The evaluation process of the Tennessee Titans roster is in full swing with Robert Saleh having settled in as the new head coach and beginning the process of filling out his coaching staff.

General manager Mike Borgonzi and his staff will be tasked with finding help for a roster that needs to be supplemented almost across the entire roster and virtually every position group.

One of the areas that might not need a lot of bolstering, but plenty of development, is quarterback.

The Titans cast their lot with Cam Ward as the No. 1 overall pick. The rookie struggled through much of his first season, but over the final six weeks of the season began to show improvement with his play.

Ward completed 323 of 540 passes (59.7 percent) for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In regards to that improvement, Ward had two TD passes in four of the final five games. He didn’t get that chance in the season finale due to suffering a shoulder injury that also complicates his off-season a bit.

Ward will spend the next few weeks rehabbing his injury and it remains to be seen if he will be ready to return by the start of the off-season program. Some of his timenthis off-season was supposed to have been spent working on improving his footwork and throwing mechanics, but that is on hold until the rehab is complete.

The Titans hired Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, and he seems eager to work with Ward. Daboll coveted Ward last year when he was coach of the New York Giants. The Giants tried to pry the first overall pick away from Tennessee to select Ward last year, but the Titans would not bite.

Now, as fate would have it, Daboll gets the chance to work with Ward here in Tennessee, while ex-Titans coach Brian Callahan moves to New York to work with Jaxson Dart.

Daboll’s interest in Ward last year should be viewed as a major plus for Ward’s development and improvement as he learns a new offense and moves to his third play-caller in his short time in the Nfl.

Of course, the big key to Ward’s development – other than learning a new system – is improving the supporting cast around him by improving at receiver and on the offensive line. That will be discussed later as we evaluate other position groups with upcoming articles.

While Ward’s development is first and foremost on the minds of everyone with the Titans’ organization the question of what to do behind Ward is also a prominent one.

The Titans still have Will Levis, who missed all of last season after opting for shoulder surgery in July. There has been plenty of speculation – ever since Ward was drafted last year – that Levis would be traded by the Titans. That still could happen, but in his latest availability, Borgonzi stated that Levis would have a role on the Titans in 2026. Indications are that Levis will partake in the off-season work, and though he would probably relish the chance to start somewhere else, the Titans shouldn’t just give the former second-round pick away for pennies.

With so many holes on the roster – and even with $100 million to spend in free agency – it would seem to make sense to keep Levis, who costs $3 million in the final year of his rookie contract – around as QB2 at an inexpensive cost. After all, the Titans simply can’t afford to give away talented players unless they get a decent value in return.

Levis’ trade value, having missed a full season and not playing as well as hoped in 2024, would likely bring only a modest return at the present time. Levis needs to be seen in the preseason to enhance his value if the Titans do move him.

But keeping him would give the Titans a good option in case Ward’s shoulder is slow to heal or he were to suffer an in-season injury. Brandon Allen is a free agent, and his one turn of action last season in the season finale, was less than impressive.

If Levis stays, that would still leave the Titans in need of a veteran QB to fill out the room. They could sign a veteran on the market like Tyrod Taylor or Mitch Trubisky, both of whom have previous experience with Daboll. Or they could retain Trevor Siemian, who has spent the past two years on the practice squad, and once was with the Jets when Saleh was head coach there.

Siemian would bring some continuity with Ward, and also would know his role would be to once again mentor the young signal-caller.

Otherwise, the pickings are slim. There are journeymen like Taylor, Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo and Carson Wentz available, along with first-round washouts like Trubisky, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Kenny Pickett on the free agent market.

In evaluating the Titans’ needs at quarterback for 2026, it comes down to two questions: How best to get Cam Ward on a track toward improvement and whether or not to keep Levis as a viable No. 2 option for 2026.