The Tennessee Titans had an excellent regular season in 2021, but their postseason was disappointing for the second consecutive NFL campaign. After earning the No. 1 seed and a bye during the Wild Card round, the Titans squandered the home field advantage they had, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round.
It was the second consecutive year that the Titans have been one and done in the postseason, which has called into question some players on the roster, namely starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill has played well for the most part since the Titans acquired him in a trade from the Miami Dolphins in 2019. But, this season he flashed some of what plagued him during his tenure with the Dolphins, turning the ball over at inopportune times.
Tannehill tossed three interceptions against the Bengals, curtailing any chance the team had to win the game. Now, there is a chance they will move on from him this offseason.
Moving on isn’t the easiest thing, as his contract provides some hurdles. He likely remains with the Titans, but you can never say never when it comes to the NFL. If the Titans feel strongly enough about moving on, they will.
If it gets to that point, here are three teams that should target Tannehill should the Titans look to move on from him.
3. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers took a chance on New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold last offseason. At the start of the 2021 regular season, it looked like a deal that was going to pay off. Darnold played better with a stronger supporting cast, but he eventually crumbled and looked like the same player he was the first three seasons with the Jets.
Darnold finished the season with more interceptions than touchdown passes, leaving the Panthers looking for an answer at the quarterback spot again. Could Ryan Tannehill be the answer?
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Carolina has some weapons to make this a strong offense but they need better quarterback play. Even with his up-and-down performance of 2021, Tannehill would be a sizable upgrade at the position for the Panthers.
Making the salary work could be a challenge for Carolina, but it is something they should consider to make an upgrade. This is a team that is a quarterback and a few tweaks defensively away from challenging in what looks to be a wide-open NFC South.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
It is the dawn of a new era in Pittsburgh as long-time Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially retired this offseason. Those will be big shoes to fill, as Roethlisberger is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
But, moving on from him may be beneficial for this Steelers team. He toughed it out the last few seasons, but his diminished arm strength and mobility were a detriment for the offense, especially behind an underwhelming offensive line.
Bringing in a new starter could bring life to an offense that is loaded with weapons but was limited by Roethlisberger’s waning skillset. Ryan Tannehill would be an intriguing option for the Steelers to consider.
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The Steelers’ passing offense was not respected by opposing defenses in 2021, but Tannehill would change that. It would help open things up for running back Najee Harris, who did the most with what he had to work with during his rookie season.
With a championship-caliber defense, Pittsburgh could be legitimate contenders with an upgrade such as Tannehill at the quarterback position.
1. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders need an upgrade at the quarterback position. Taylor Heineke was okay during the 2021 season, replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was injured in Week 1 and never returned to the field.
Heineke makes some plays with his arm and legs but is very inconsistent. He was unable to get the ball in his playmakers’ hands regularly, leading to some up-and-down performances by the Commanders’ offense.
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Ideally, Washington will not have Heineke penciled in as the starter heading into the 2022 season. He would be a strong backup to someone such as Ryan Tannehill.
The Commanders have a solid roster, and upgrading at the quarterback position would help a defense that was worn out by the end of the season. Terry McLaurin would also love seeing someone like Tannehill under center after what he was able to accomplish with A.J. Brown.
