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Ryan Tannehill named Titans biggest free agent decision of 2020 by ESPN

By Michael Moraitis

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans rushes against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans rushes against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the biggest offseason decision the team will have in free agency in 2020, according to ESPN.

The Tennessee Titans will have a slew of important free agents to make a decision on during the 2020 offseason, but ESPN believes none are bigger than quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

ESPN’s Turron Davenport believes the Titans will use the franchise tag on the signal-caller to avoid competition from other teams, then will work out a contract to keep him in Nashville for the foreseeable future.

"The Titans became a different team once Tannehill took over in Week 7. His play has earned him the opportunity to be the starter going forward for Tennessee. But at what price? Expect to see the Titans use the franchise tag on Tannehill to keep him from negotiating with other teams while they hammer out a deal that keeps him with the Titans for at least the next three years. Signing Tannehill to a deal keeps the team from being forced to take a quarterback with its first-round pick."

Since Tannehill was named the starter in Week 7, the Titans have gone 9-3 (including the playoffs) and are now one game away from Super Bowl LIV. Tannehill finished first in the NFL in passer rating (117.5) and third in completion percentage (70.3) during the regular season.

Just a few weeks ago, Tannehill would have been the easy answer, with running back Derrick Henry a close second.

However, since Henry has carried the Titans to the AFC Championship Game on the strength of 377 rushing yards in two playoff games, he and Tannehill are neck and neck as far as important free agents go.

Of course, the quarterback will usually get the priority over a running back, and that’s likely true in this instance as well, especially because the Titans have been looking for a concrete solution under center for years now and Tannehill has answered the bell for the vast majority of his tenure.

According to Sportrac, Tannehill’s estimated market value could pay him a contract worth $122 million over four years ($30.5 million annually), which is up from the three-year deal worth $76.7 million ($25.5 million annually) Sportrac had previously estimated.

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