Kerry Collins Retirement: Where the Tennessee Titans Go from Here

Many weren't sure whether or not Kerry Collins would return for his 17th NFL season, but it was made official earlier today that he will retire.

This really shouldn't come as to big of a shock to people considering how the past few seasons have went for Collins. He had to realize that even is decent playing days were well behind him and that he was on a team clearly in transition to the future.

Collins did a lot of great things for this franchise at the back end of his career on a team with sub-par offensive weapons, so he's owed the utmost respect from fans and the organization alike.

It should also be noted that he handled his retirement in a very class manner by not leaving the Titans on the hook well into the offseason. This timing leaves the Titans plenty of time to plan on their next move.

With Collins' retirement, the Titans are now left with one fewer option on what to do at quarterback next season.

They still have Jake Locker, who they drafted 8th overall, but recent history has shown that throwing your rookie quarterback right into the fire isn't always the best option.

The current roster at quarterback position now reads as Jake Locker, Rusty Smith, Brett Ratliff and Chris Simms. That's of course with the exclusion of Vince Young who hasn't officially been taken off the roster due to the lockout.

There is absolutely no way any of these quarterbacks are the Week 1 starter with the exception of Locker.

Smith was more or less drafted to be a backup quarterback and will remain that. Teams don't draft quarterbacks eighth overall to have them backup a second-year quarterback that was drafted in the fifth round.

With that said, it's still possible that the Titans try to grab a free agent, but who's going to want to play caretaker for the Titans knowing that it's going to be Locker's team sooner or later?

You can go ahead and cross off Carson Palmer, Matt Hasselbeck, Trent Edwards and Kyle Orton because all of these guys want to be permanent starters. There will be other teams that will be able to offer them that, and the Titans won't.

Then you have the scenario of the Titans finding a seasoned veteran that wants to help a young team and move them in the right direction. When you put it that way, the list gets pretty small.

However, there are two very interesting options: Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre. McNabb might not seem all that surprising, but yes I did mention Favre as well.

First off, it's almost a certainty that McNabb is on his way out of Washington D.C., so would he entertain playing a mentor for Locker? After all, his best playing days are long gone, and it would be a great way to end his career by helping a very promising young quarterback in Locker.

I'm sure the Titans will make some sort of an effort to sign him if the opportunity presents itself. If that were to happen, the Titans would have a veteran that could win games for them now, while also prepping Locker for the future.

Now here comes the crazy idea. What if the Titans talked Favre into one more year just to give them a chance to win right now, much like McNabb would do.

We all know the old gun-slinger still wants to play, and he's a Southern boy at heart. Remember, Favre is just one year removed for nearly putting the Minnesota Vikings into the Super Bowl.

Like almost every other free agent signing, there would be plenty of risks with signing Favre. He's been a walking soap opera ever since he left the Packers, and there's a possibility he brings that drama here to a team that already has enough issues.

If you figure out a way to get over that risk, then this idea really shouldn't seem that far fetched. Favre has to realize that his legacy was tarnished a bit with everything that has happened since the Packers.

If here were to start one season for the Titans while mentoring Locker, it would certainly help put to rest some of the ways he alienated Aaron Rodgers in a similar situation.

As interesting as all of these scenarios are in their own unique way, all signs point to Locker being the starter right out of the gate. It may not instantly result in wins, but it will force Locker to grow up fast and let the Titans begin to grow out of the Jeff Fisher era.