Top NFL Landing Spots, Trade Packages for Titans QB Ryan Tannehill
0 of 5
It used to be that trades involving big-name quarterbacks were a rarity in the NFL. But in the past two years, that has changed. Last year, Russell Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Rodgers is expected to be dealt to the New York Jets any day now.
And now a third quarterback with considerable postseason experience could be on the move.
While appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Tennessee Titans could be amenable to moving on from veteran Ryan Tannehill.
"Teams I talk to do believe that Tannehill could be, or is, available via trade," Fowler said. "He's got a $36 million cap hit. New [general manager] Ran Carthon is resetting this roster in a big way. They're making some moves. And so, right now they would need a replacement, though; they would need somebody in place."
At 34, Tannehill's age and robust 2023 cap hit aren't the only stumbling blocks for a potential deal. Tannehill's contract is set to expire after the 2023 season. Tannehill also missed five games in 2022 and threw just 13 touchdown passes.
But we're talking about a quarterback who has started 143 NFL games and who has won almost two-thirds of his 55 starts with the Titans. Tannehill would be an upgrade under center for several teams.
Here's a look at a handful of them—and what it might take to make a deal happen.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 5
The Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans are already allegedly talking trade—but it has nothing to do with Ryan Tannehill—at least not yet.
While appearing on the NFL Network, Daniel Jeremiah said that the Titans have discussed moving all the way up to the third overall pick in April's draft—ostensibly to draft a quarterback of the future.
"Can I give you the team that I have been told to keep an eye on that's exploring this and looking into this?" Jeremiah said on his Move the Sticks podcast (via Buck Reising of A to Z Sports). "Again, this is just people around the league who said do not sleep on Numero 11. The Tennessee Titans. The two teams to keep an eye on with the trade-ups were the Raiders and the Titans."
It's an understandable move for both sides. The Cardinals are locked into Kyler Murray for the foreseeable future and have multiple spots that need filling, Trading back and stockpiling picks makes sense.
In some respects, so does including Tannehill in a prospective deal.
Whereas most teams would likely also want Tannehill to restructure his contract in a trade, for Arizona the fact that his deal expires in 2024 might not be such a bad thing. The Redbirds wouldn't be looking for a long-term solution under center. Arizona just needs someone who can hold down the fort while Murray recovers from the ACL tear that cut his season short.
If the Cardinals have any aspirations of being more than the NFC West's doormat in 2023, Tannehill is easily the best "fill in" option that would be available for the team.
And if moving Tannehill knocks down the massive cost of moving up eight spots, the Titans would have to strongly consider it.
Cardinals Get: Ryan Tannehill; 2023 Round 1 Pick (No. 11); 2023 Round 3 Pick (No. 72); 2024 Round 1 Pick
Titans Get: 2023 Round 1 Pick (No. 3)
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 5
The Atlanta Falcons are in no-man's land at quarterback.
As things stand right now, second-year pro Desmond Ridder is penciled in as Atlanta's starter in 2023, with Taylor Heinicke serving as his backup. One of those players probably isn't "the guy." The other one definitely isn't.
Ridder wasn't terrible as a rookie, winning two of his four starts while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. But Ridder also threw all of two touchdown passes in four games and showed little to indicate he has what it takes to be a plus starter. Heinicke started 24 games in Washington over the past two seasons and showed the occasional flash, but his knack for turning the ball over at the worst possible time got him the hook in Washington and makes him a player better suited to a reserve role.
Atlanta has the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft. But most draftniks expect at least three quarterbacks to come off the board ahead of Atlanta, and in Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, the Falcons pass on Kentucky's Will Levis in favor of help on the edge in Clemson's Myles Murphy.
Tannehill isn't a game-changer. He isn't going to single-handedly reverse the Falcons fortunes. But by just about any reasonable estimation, he's an upgrade on Ridder and Heinicke. A player who can make the Falcons competitive in the NFL's weakest division.
Tannehill and Falcons head coach Arthur Smith also have history, with the latter coaching the former in Tennessee in 2019 and 2020. If any coach knows how to scheme up Tannehill, it's Smith. And Smith needs to show progress in 2023 or he's likely out of a job.
This isn't a move that would electrify the fanbase.
But it makes sense.
Falcons Get: Ryan Tannehill
Titans Get: 2023 Round 3 pick (No. 75); 2023 Round 4 Pick (No. 110)
Indianapolis Colts
3 of 5
It's no secret that the Indianapolis Colts need a quarterback. Since Andrew Luck's retirement, the Colts have opened each and every season with a different starter under center. As a matter of fact, Indy's need at quarterback is so pressing that the B/R Scouting Department believes the Colts will trade up one spot to be sure they get their man in Florida's Anthony Richardson.
"General manager Chris Ballard loves traits, and no quarterback in this year's class has better traits than Richardson," Derrik Klassen said. "As a rare athlete for the position, Richardson is a talented quarterback who needs a little bit of love and care to reach his potential.
"On the bright side," he continued, "Richardson offers exceptional scrambling ability, pocket management and the know-how to avoid sacks, not to mention he's a decent processor for a one-year starter. Richardson's issues mostly boil down to timing and accuracy, which can be fixed with a couple of seasons of sharp coaching from Shane Steichen and Co."
However, while Richardson is immensely talented, he's also immensely raw. He's all but certainly going to need at least a season of development before he'll be ready to start. Maybe two.
The Colts brought in Gardner Minshew as a stopgap option at quarterback, but while fans love his moxie, he's mediocre on his best day. Simply put, rolling out Minshew at quarterback is punting on the 2023 season.
However, bringing in Tannehill as a "bridge" starter would allow the Colts to bring Richardson along slowly without completely throwing the towel in on 2023.
If, that is, the Colts can convince the Titans to trade Tannehill inside the division.
Colts Get: Ryan Tannehill, 2024 Round 6 Pick
Titans Get: 2023 Round 3 Pick (No. 79); 2024 Conditional Round 4 Pick
New England Patriots
4 of 5
This is one of the least likely scenarios listed here. But an argument can be made that it's a deal that would help both sides extricate themselves from an uncomfortable situation.
The Patriots didn't expect to be in this situation at all. After drafting Mac Jones in the first round two years ago and watching Jones make the playoffs as a rookie, expectations were high in 2022. But the entire New England offense imploded last year, and as Chad Graff reported for The Athletic, when Jones went outside the organization for advice on turning things around, it did not sit well with Belichick.
"Jones dealt with turnovers early in the season," he said. "He had a couple of on-field outbursts. Surely, Belichick was bothered by both. But not having faith in the coaching staff? Looking outside the building for answers? That's a near-cardinal sin for Belichick."
That rift has led to speculation that the Patriots could be willing to part with Jones. And while the Pats also have Bailey Zappe on the roster, moving Jones would leave the Patriots with a quandary at quarterback.
Unless, of course, the Pats flipped one quarterback for another.
New England isn't a rebuilding team—the Pats of aspirations of contending in 2023. If Belichick truly is ready to move on from Jones, then a QB swap with the Titans could help keep New England in the hunt in 2023.
Perhaps the change of scenery would help Jones recapture his 2021 form. And with at least two years left on his rookie deal, the Titans would have options under center moving forward.
Patriots Get: Ryan Tannehill, 2023 Round 5 Pick (No. 147)
Titans Get: Mac Jones, 2023 Round 6 Pick (No. 187)
New York Jets
5 of 5
I can feel the waves of disdain coming off Jets fans at the mere thought of Ryan Tannehill landing in New York. After all, while speaking to fans at an event sponsored by WFAN Radio, Jets general manager Joe Douglas all but guaranteed that the long-rumored trade that would bring Aaron Rodgers to New York is going to happen.
"He's gonna be here," Douglas said.
But here's the thing. For whatever reason, that trade hasn't happened yet. Reports have indicated that the hangup is 2024 compensation—the Packers want New York's first-rounder with no strings attached, while the Jets want the pick to be conditional.
Cooler heads will probably prevail. But what if they don't? What if both sides dig in and won't budge? What happens if the rumors that the San Francisco 49ers could insert themselves into the situation turn out to be more than just rumors?
What do the Jets do if the Rodgers deal falls apart?
It's easy enough to identify what they won't do—there's no going back to Zach Wilson at this point. Wilson was mostly dreadful last year. There have been multiple reports that Wilson has lost the locker room, with Jordan Schultz of The Score telling The Pat McAfee Show there would be "a mutiny" if Wilson was the team's quarterback in 2023.
Ryan Tannehill isn't Aaron Rodgers. But he's several steps up the quarterback ladder from Wilson. The Jets have talent at just about every position on the field save one—quarterback. Tannehill has demonstrated that he can lead a talented team deep into the playoffs.
There's no reason to think he couldn't do that in New York—at a fraction of what it would cost to acquire Rodgers.
Jets Get: Ryan Tannehill
Titans Get: 2023 Round 4 Pick (No. 112); 2024 Conditional Round 4 Pick
"trade" - Google News
April 24, 2023 at 07:53PM
https://ift.tt/MLu84Vc
Top NFL Landing Spots, Trade Packages for Titans QB Ryan Tannehill - Bleacher Report
"trade" - Google News
https://ift.tt/D3MTFnx
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar