Chris Mortensen: ‘Ryan Tannehill is not leaving the Titans’
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, we should expect quarterback Ryan Tannehill to remain with the Tennessee Titans in 2020.
Despite rumors and speculation about quarterback Tom Brady possibly coming to Nashville, the most likely situation will involve the Tennessee Titans retaining quarterback Ryan Tannehill in 2020.
In fact, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said “Ryan Tannehill is not leaving the Titans” on Sunday, which was shared by Miami Dolphins beat reporter, the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad.
From @mortreport “Ryan Tannehill is not leaving the Titans.” They love Ryan in Tennessee.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) February 2, 2020
We take this with more than a grain of salt because Mortensen is one of the most reliable sports journalists out there. Not to mention, it just makes sense based on the situation.
Tannehill took the Titans’ offense to new heights last season and turned a 2-4 start into a 9-7 finish and a playoff berth.
It was arguably his best season as a pro, as he led the NFL in passer rating and was third in completion percentage, and most recently took home the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award on Saturday.
After the Titans were eliminated from the playoffs in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tannehill expressed his love for the franchise.
"“I’ll take a step back and look at things here in the offseason, obviously. I love this team, I love what this team was able to accomplish.”"
As long as the price is right, it would make no sense for the Titans to be looking elsewhere for quarterback help this offseason, especially in an aging and possibly declining Brady.
The Titans also have a slew of ways to keep him, so they’d really have to not want Tannehill for him to go elsewhere. The only hesitation could come if Tannehill is looking for crazy money and years in a contract that the Titans are hesitant to give him because of a small sample size.
Even then, Tennessee could opt for the franchise tag to stop him from negotiating with other teams and it would give the Titans a one-year look at Tannehill that would pay the signal-caller roughly $27 million in 2020.
One way or the other, Tennessee is going to get something done with Tannehill that keeps him in Nashville for at least another season.