Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
One of the most unexpected breakthrough performances that led to a Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2019, Ryan Tannehill shocked the NFL world last season. He entered the year playing on a one-year, $2 million contract after flaming out with the Miami Dolphins and now enters 2020 with a four-year, $118 million deal under his belt.
After taking over for a lackluster Marcus Mariota and a dwindling Titans team mid-season, Tannehill played the best football of his career at the perfect time and even catapulted the team to the AFC Championship Game. He had the highest QBR in the league with a 117.5 mark and led all passers with a tremendous 9.6 yards per attempt, 1 full yard higher than Matt Stafford at No. 2.
Some will point to the fact that Tannehill’s unprecedented success with the Titans can be attributed to Derrick Henry’s all-time great rushing season, though they don’t have to be considered mutually exclusive. Tannehill particularly thrived off of the play-action pass once the rush had been established, and his downfield passing was superb.
A.J. Brown’s miraculous rookie season helped him find a rhythm on deep passes and they even connected for the ‘most improbable’ completion of 2019 on a 47-yard heave. Henry is the heart and soul of the Titans’ offense, but it was evident that a game manager like Mariota was not capable of elevating the team to the success they found late in the year.
The Titans offense looks almost identical to its 2019 lineup, aside from losing right tackle Jack Conklin and replacing him with Isaiah Wilson in the first round of the draft. Henry will continue to stiff-arm defenses left and right, so the main way the Titans can improve is increased production from former top-five pick Corey Davis, and more consistency from Adam Humphries. Last season, Tannehill totaled over 2,700 yards, 22 touchdowns to 6 interceptions four rushing scores, and a 70.3% completion rate in 12 games.
2020 Prediction for Ryan Tannehill: 4,100 yards, 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, two rushing scores, and a 68% completion rate.
