Will Levis Says His Situation on Titans 'Sucks', Talks Mindset Backing Up Cam Ward

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis admitted Wednesday that the aftermath of the Titans selecting quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft hasn't been easy for him.

Speaking to Terry McCormick of Main Street Nashville, Levis said:

"Anyone who's ever been in my situation would agree that it sucks. I'm just trying to do the best I can to not let it affect me and just being the same dude every day in the building and being there for the guys however I can and just trying to get better every day."

Levis started the bulk of the Titans' games the past two seasons after they took him in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, but all signs point toward Ward immediately seizing the starting job as a rookie.

After starring collegiately at Kentucky, Levis was widely viewed as a likely first-round pick in the 2023 draft, but he dropped to Tennessee with the first pick in the second round.

Veteran Ryan Tannehill began 2023 as the Titans' starting quarterback, but Levis eventually took the job. Although he only went 3-6 as a starter during his rookie season, Levis showed some flashes of brilliance, including a great deep ball, and he went on to complete 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

That was enough to earn Levis the starting job entering 2024, but a combination and inconsistent play led to him starting only 12 games, while Mason Rudolph started the rest.

Levis went just 2-10 for a Titans team that finished 3-14 overall, and he seemed to regress in terms of his decision-making, as he completed 63.1 percent of his passing attempts for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 picks.

With quarterback play unquestionably playing a significant role in the Titans' struggles last season, the organization decided to secure a new franchise quarterback with the top pick in the 2025 draft.

After starring at FCS Incarnate Word and at Washington State, Ward transferred to Miami for his senior season and it paid dividends, as he threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions en route to finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Ward has all the physical tools NFL teams typically look for in a quarterback with good size, a strong arm and plenty of mobility, all of which were qualities Levis brought with him to the NFL as well.

Even though Levis is likely to spend the entire 2025 season as a backup barring injury to Ward, he told McCormick that he isn't going to change how he approaches things, saying: "I haven't been a backup in a while, but I don't plan on shifting my mindset, regardless of what the situation is. I'm just going to be ready to play quarterback whenever my name is called."

A backup quarterback could be thrust into action at any time, so being prepared to play will be of the utmost importance for Levis.

It is possible his time as a starter in Tennessee is over and done with, but even if that is the case, performing well when called upon could earn him future opportunities elsewhere.

Levis is still only 25 years old, and he has some abilities that could be appealing to other teams, so the Titans' decision to pick Ward doesn't necessarily mean he can't have a long and successful career.