NASHVILLE – Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe is rarely at a loss for words.
But for a moment at Super Bowl LIX, Sharpe had to collect himself after being presented with a question about who the Titans should take with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft.
"Ooooooowee," said one of the stars of ESPN's debate show, First Take. "The question is: Do you believe in Will Levis? And for me, he makes too many of the same mistakes. I can live with mistakes, just don't make the same mistake twice, and even his coach got out of character a little bit (last season), with, "Bro, what are you doing?" And he didn't say it quite like that, he said it a little harsher than when I just said it.
"But I think that's the biggest thing. Teams that take care of the football advance and go far, and when you turn the ball over you lose ball games. So, I don't envy the general manager in Tennessee to make that choice, because those are the kinds of decisions that either keep you in a job, or get you fired from a job."
Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are regarded as the top quarterbacks in this year's draft class, and Sharpe said they both have good qualities.
He'd be tempted by both, he said.
"I think Shedeur is more accurate, and I think Cam is a little more athletic and has a little more pop on the ball," Sharpe said. "It all depends on the type of offense you are going to run, what you are looking for in a quarterback. I think with both guys, the head coach, the general manager and the owner, can turn their phones off at night and not have to worry about getting a call, because both these guys are on the up and up. You know what you are going to get, you are going to get CEOs of franchises. So, I don't think you can go wrong with either guy."
But, Sharpe said he'd also be tempted with Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado defensive back/receiver Travis Hunter.
In fact, he gave another "ooooooowee" when asked about that as a possibility.
But he ultimately doubled down and said he'd take a QB.
"Who is the best defensive player? Well, you are not trading those guys for a quarterback," Sharpe said. "As great as Abdul Carter is, as great as (Travis Hunter) is – and I'm not saying any of these guys are going to be another Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. But the thing is you need guys who can score points, and the quarterback touches the ball on every play. I can limit all those other guys, because I can slide protection, and I can chip them and I can do things. I can throw the ball away from Travis Hunter.
"But a quarterback who touches the ball every play, it is hard, especially if I do the evaluation and I decide: 'This is the guy who is going to lead my franchise for the next decade. I can't pass him up.' The Titans just have to decide if one of those guys is in this draft, because when you have one of those guys, you have a chance."
