Winner: Ryan Tannehill
After being discarded by the Miami Dolphins in a trade with the Titans, Ryan Tannehill resurrected both his career and the Titans’ in 2019 after a 2-4 start. He’s now looking at quite a hefty pay day, whether that comes in the form of a new contract or either the franchise or transition tag.
At this time last year, Tannehill was a failed starter whose career was in question, but now he could be one of the most sought-after free agents of the 2020 offseason if he gets a chance to test the open market in any way.
Loser: Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota entered the 2019 season with a “prove it” year ahead of him but he failed to answer the bell. The former No. 2 overall pick struggled mightily over the first six games (with the help of putrid offensive line play), and was later replaced by Tannehill in Week 7.
Tannehill went on to have a great season and take Tennessee to the playoffs, while Mariota had to watch this all unfold from the bench. While Mariota has left a lasting impact on his teammates, his days in Nashville are almost certainly over.