NFL 2023: Predicting the starting QB for all 32 teams pre-NFL Free Agency

Tennessee Titans: Aaron Rodgers (replacing Ryan Tannehill)

Possible backup options: Joshua Dobbs, Malik Willis, Jordan Love?

Here’s a wild card possibility. All of the talk with Aaron Rodgers right now is pretty centered on the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets. Understandably so.

Rodgers has an obvious connection in Las Vegas with his old pal Davante Adams. In New York, the obvious connection is new OC Nathaniel Hackett. Rodgers was a huge advocate of Hackett during last year’s head coaching cycle, and many people thought there was a decent chance he would follow him to Denver. That didn’t happen, but the same rumors have come up now that Hackett is with the Jets.

But there is a connection for Rodgers in Tennessee as well. It might not be as obvious as the connection between he and Hackett, but the Titans hired Justin Outten in 2023 as their RBs coach and run game coordinator.

Outten was with the Packers’ staff from 2019-2021 and that connection could come up pretty big for the Titans as they pursue options outside of maybe Ryan Tannehill for the 2023 season.

The Titans’ new GM is Ran Carthon, who has worked for some highly aggressive general managers in recent years (Les Snead, John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan). Those two front offices have run a master class on making aggressive moves to get your roster in position to succeed quickly in recent years, so why should we think Carthon is going to operate differently in Tennessee?

A trade to the Titans would keep Rodgers out of the NFC, and Rodgers could frankly run the offense the way he wants with Mike Vrabel as the team’s head coach. He could probably do the same in New York with Hackett, but in Las Vegas, he and Josh McDaniels could clash.

With all due respect to Titans OC Tim Kelly, Rodgers would likely be able to run things his way in Tennessee, and the Titans have already begun clearing space that might be necessary to facilitate a move like this.