Titans' Will Levis in rarified QB territory over past 3 years

The debut of an NFL quarterback is dependent on a variety of things. Some quarterbacks are drafted and expected to be starters from the beginning. Some quarterbacks are drafted, developed, and then play in a game.

Aaron Rodgers sat behind Brett Favre for seven years before becoming the star he is today.

But sometimes a rookie quarterback gets thrown into his debut before he’s really ready. The starter goes down with an injury, even a minor one, and he has to take over the game.

Over the last three years, 13 rookie quarterbacks selected in the top 100 of the NFL draft have a starting debut in the NFL. Only two of them won the first game they ever started: Malik Willis and Will Levis.

Willis was traded to the Green Bay Packers as part of the Titans’ trimming their roster, but it was also an effort to give him a better shot at playing in a game. But in Week 8 of the 2022 season against the Houston Texans, Willis threw for 55 yards and rushed for 12, leading the Titans to a 17-10 victory.

Levis got his first start in Week 8 of 2024. He threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns, was sacked twice, and rushed for 11 yards on his way to a 28-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Willis has a ton of potential, which is why Ran Carthon wanted to send him somewhere he knew he’d get a better shot to play. Levis earned the official starting position for the Titans with his play last season.

Being a quarterback in the NFL is hard, but the Titans have managed to produce two rookies capable of winning in their starting debut.