Ryan Tannehill proving that he isn’t “saltwater” for the Tennessee Titans
By Will Lomas
Wrapping this up
It looks like we know that Tannehill is not saltwater to a dying man, but instead just enough freshwater to last until you make it home.
If that is the case then should the Tennessee Titans franchise tag him or what?
Well, Sigmund Bloom said what we were all thinking today on Twitter.
Ryan Tannehill laying his body on the line and summoning up the will to win collisions for his team typifies the rehabilitation of his stock. The Titans might as well sign him to a similar deal to the one the Colts gave Jacoby Brissett
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) November 11, 2019
So what did the Colts give Jacoby Brissett in case you forgot?
Well, they gave Brissett a 2 year deal at the beginning of the season that was basically a restructure and a one year extension. Let’s just treat this as a new two year deal.
It was a 2020-heavy deal worth $30 million total with $9 million guaranteed.
Using that as the framework, it isn’t crazy to give Tannehill a two year deal worth $40 million is the second year being very team friendly and the first year giving guaranteed money to the player.
If he signs for anything less than $20 million per year (or if the 2020 cap hit is less than that) you have to consider that a win considering the going rate of good QB play in the NFL.
This gives you cushion to see what your rookie is made of and when he can start. If a team wants to take on that contract in a trade down the line that is fine and if not you can try to rework it to lower the cap.
I don’t mean to be overly critical, but in this offseason I fully expect the Titans to have to make some tough decisions. Needing a QB they only have $38 million in space next year and there are several free agents that need to be retained.
If you cut Cameron Wake, Delanie Walker (HUGE if), Dion Lewis, Ryan Succop, Jamil Douglas, and Aaron Stinnie that number shoots up to nearly $60 million.
Just going on paper, the only cuts that hurt you there are Wake and Walker both of which are in their 30s and have dealt with injuries this year. They could easily go somewhere else and have a few great years left, but the Titans finances may force them into that situation.
Right now that is the reality the Titans are living in and it is what you need to know as the season enters the final stretch in a few weeks.