Tennessee Titans: Quarterback Search Continues With The Cam Newton Scenario

This unrest at the quarterback position has become way too expected for the Tennessee Titans every offseason, and it's time for the Titans to start building for the future.

Kerry Collins may be able to win some games, but let's face it. He's not going to get any younger, and it's very unlikely that the Titans can go anywhere far with Collins under center.

Unless the Titans were to add a quarterback that is already in the league, then that leaves them with drafting a quarterback for the future.

There are several promising prospects at the quarterback position in this upcoming draft, but everyone seems to be talking about the possibility of drafting Cam Newton.

Since the Titans have the eighth overall pick, it's very likely Newton will be available for the Titans to take.

The question is does he really fit into the same offense that Vince Young was never able to completely master?

There's no doubt that Newton is explosive, athletic and a promising young player, but so was Vince Young. Out of all of the top quarterbacks in the draft, Newton's game resembles Young's the most.

This isn't a question of whether or not Newton will succeed in the NFL. Newton is a great athlete, seems to be very mature and has a promising arm to go with it.

However, the Titans need an established pocket-passer to go along with a Titans receiving corps that has suddenly become extremely vertical.

It's no knock on Newton, but drafting him would make no sense for the Titans. There are other quarterbacks in this draft that fit into the Titans offensive system more so than Newton.

Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas seems to make the most sense if the Titans choose to draft a quarterback that early.

Mallett has one of the strongest arms in the draft, played against top-notch defenses every week and has a great NFL quarterback physique at 6-foot-7.

Blaine Gabbert out of Missouri is listed by many as the top quarterback prospect in this year's draft, so the odds are low that he'll slip all the way down to the eighth pick.

If the Titans choose to wait until the later rounds to draft a quarterback, then guys like Christian Ponder or Ricky Stanzi would be potential suitors for the Titans system.

Waiting until later could allow the Titans to address that tumbling defense, instead of hitting the panic button at the quarterback position.

No matter who the quarterback is the Titans would draft, it will be crucial for this quarterback to get time to ride the pine and learn the system.

That was part of the problem that Young faced. He was thrown into the mix his rookie year and always seemed to struggle to keep his head above water.

If Collins sticks around for another season or two, then that could be the perfect situation for a draft prospect to learn the system from a veteran who knows the system well.

There's also the scenario of the Titans adding a quarterback that is already in the league, like Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles.

If this were to happen, then it would completely change the draft priorities for the Titans.

Only time will tell how this all gets sorted out.

In general, the Titans have always been smart with their draft choices, and they're in need of a strong draft showing in the 2011 installment.