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Titans Projected to Land Vikings QB in Free Agency

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Titans Projected to Land Vikings QB in Free Agency


There is one item on the Tennessee Titans’ to-do list this offseason that stands out among all the rest. Obviously, that item is finding a new starting quarterback for the 2025 season.

After a brutal year of quarterback production in 2024, the Titans are a near lock to bring in a new signal caller. Whether they use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback, sign one in free agency, or look to pull off a trade, a new starter is almost certain to be under center in Tennessee.

Most of the talk about the Titans landing a quarterback has surrounded the draft. Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward have been talked about constantly since Tennessee landed the top pick.

However, the rumors surrounding free agents like Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers have been loud as well.

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With that being said, a new projection has come out that has the Titans signing Darnold in free agency.

Matt Johnson of SportsNaut had Tennessee signing Darnold as one of his 15 predictions for the offseason.

“A return to the Minnesota Vikings now seems out of the question. The Las Vegas Raiders might also be an option, but it’s hard to believe they would see Tom Brady as a franchise savior. Instead, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan rolls the dice with his job on the line in 2025,” Johnson wrote.

“Tennesee has already demonstrated that it is willing to spend big in NFL free agency, even if it isn’t in the team’s best long-term interest for building a team. Darnold provides stability and if Tennessee uses its first-round pick on a right tackle, the Titans offensive line could be good enough for Darnold to succeed on a three-year deal.”

Darnold put together a monstrous 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings. He ended up playing all 17 games, completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also picked up 212 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

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At 27 years old, Darnold is still young enough to be a long-term quarterback. He will turn 28 before the 2025 season kicks off, but the Titans would still have their long-term signal caller if they sign him.

Many are split with their opinions about Darnold. Some think that he was a product of playing with the Vikings and having an elite supporting cast. Others think that Darnold is the real deal.

It would be a risk to sign Darnold, but so would drafting a quarterback.

Expect to hear a ton of rumors and specluation about Tennessee and its quarterback situation as the offseason gets going. Darnold is a name to keep a very close eye on.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger plans to enter transfer portal

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Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger plans to enter transfer portal


Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger plans to enter the transfer portal, Knox News has confirmed.

On3.com and Rivals.com were the first to report Merklinger’s decision. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.

Merklinger has also opted out of the Music City Bowl. No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. Starter Joey Aguilar will play in the bowl game, so Merklinger was not expected to be a factor. Freshman George MacIntyre will serve as the backup.

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Merklinger spent two seasons at Tennessee but barely played and failed to win the starting job. He played six games and went 19-of-33 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2024, Merklinger was a third-string freshman when Nico Iamaleava started. In 2025, he competed for the starting job but lost to transfer Joey Aguilar.

By the end of the 2025 season, Merklinger was neck and neck with freshman George MacIntyre for the backup job. And it didn’t appear that Merklinger would factor in the starting job in 2026.

Merklinger, a native of Savannah, Georgia, was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Seedy K’s GameCap: Tennessee

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Seedy K’s GameCap: Tennessee


When you have two legitimate Top 20 teams testing each other, it’s never inevitable.

But this U of L task in Knoxville against tall favorite Tennessee sure seemed close to that heading in.

Well coached top level foe at its sold out home.

One whose strength — inside scoring and rebounding — made it a bad matchup for the Cards, whose lack of inside depth and strength has been an Achilles heel from the get go.

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That the Vols were hungry and angry coming off three straight Ls made a U of L victory seem an almost impossible task.

Then we learned that back issue of Mikel Brown’s is a problem.

Cards were toast before tip.

It was all evident by halftime — actually well before then.

It just takes a peek at a couple statistics.

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Tennessee led by only 7, thanks to some tough Cardinal D. And UT’s woeful FT shooting.

That inside game issue: Volunteers 28 points in the paint. Cardinals 10.

That’s right, Tennessee had more points in the paint at the break than Louisville had points total.

That lack of point guard issue: U of L had 9 FGs at intermission. Tennessee had that many assists on 15 buckets.

Louisville’s strength is depth. At least usually.

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During the first 20 Tuesday, the Cards had zero points off the pine. Vols 22. (For the game, the disparity was 34-3. Khani Rooths hit a FT. Wild Man Zougris a garbage time slam.)

Another opening stanza reality that might have you feeling the need to clean your glasses.

Only three guys scored. Adrian Wooley with 12, Ryan Conwell with 11, and Sananda Fru with 4.

Louisville’s second half performance is not worth the bandwidth, my time to write about, nor your time to read.

The final, in a lopsided disappointing loss: 83-62.

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There is no sugar frosting this. Against teams with major size and inside presence, Louisville has and will continue to struggle.

When your most talented player doesn’t suit up, it makes it more impossible to overcome.



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A look at new laws proposed in Tennessee

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A look at new laws proposed in Tennessee


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