Titans might give Ryan Tannehill a new contract, not franchise tag: Report

A new report says that the Tennessee Titans might look to give quarterback Ryan Tannehill a new contract instead of a franchise tag in 2020.

It appears the Tennessee Titans will look to avoid franchise tagging quarterback Ryan Tannehill in 2020 by giving him a new contract.

In a report last week by CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, he suggested that the Titans could tag Tannehill in 2020, which would pay him about $27 million next season.

However, a new report by ESPN’s Diana Russini on Sunday suggests that the Titans might look to give Tannehill a new contract altogether, avoiding the franchise tag.

The Titans acquired Tannehill in a trade with the Dolphins during the offseason. He was thought to be an insurance policy for quarterback Marcus Mariota in the event he got hurt, but was deployed in Week 6 for the Oregon product while he was in the midst of his worst game of the season.

Since Tannehill officially took over as the Titans’ starter in Week 7, Tennessee is 5-1 and has seen a huge improvement in its offense, which includes scoring 30 points or more in each of its last three games. The last time that happened was in 2016.

Furthermore, the Titans have resurrected their season after starting out 2-4 and now have a shot at not only a wild card spot, but winning the AFC South, also. Because of his sensational play, Tannehill has understandably become a fan-favorite in Nashville.

The Titans have some important free agents to make decisions on next season, but Tannehill should be at the top of the list and has earned every right to be this team’s starter of the future.

If at all possible, the Titans should lock Tannehill up sooner rather than later because he could become a hot commodity on the open market, creating a bidding war that the Titans should avoid.