Tennessee Titans: What would a Ryan Tannehill contract look like?

If reports are true and the Tennessee Titans are planning to give Ryan Tannehill a new contract in 2020, what would it look like?

After eight starts and with two games left in the 2019 season, it’s safe to say that quarterback Ryan Tannehill has done more than enough to earn the starting spot for the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and beyond.

Tannehill is 6-2 as the team’s starter six Week 7 and Tennessee’s offense as a whole has reached new heights with him under center. Because of Tannehill’s play, the Titans have a shot to make the playoffs, which was considered impossible during the team’s 2-4 start.

So, if Tannehill is going to get a new contract after this season and not get franchise tagged as a recent report suggested, what would it look like?

Well, according to Sportrac, Tannehill’s market value in a contract would come out to a three-year deal worth $76.7 million, which works out to an average annual salary of about $25.5 million.

As far as average salary goes, that would put the 31-year-old behind guys like Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford, but ahead of signal-callers like Alex Smith and Nick Foles. That sounds about right.

And a three-year contract length would be perfect. Tannehill, who will be 32 in July 2020, would be 34 when the contract ends, giving the Titans just enough time to try and figure out their quarterback situation for the future.

Of course, Tannehill could play well enough to earn yet another contract beyond his next one with the Titans, alleviating the need to find a young, franchise quarterback for even longer.

Whatever the case may be, the Titans need to lock Tannehill up after this season. His play has been one of the biggest reasons for Tennessee’s resurgence from the dead in 2019 and there will be teams lining up to sign him if the Titans don’t.