Two NFL Situations to Watch as Possible Landing Spots in Tannehill Trade
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are most likely not going to trade Tannehill and there are some who think the Tannehill trade talk has run it's course. That is a perfectly fine position to take, but it was easy to say that when there are no clear partners on the trade market. As some situations around the NFL develop though, a market for Tannehill just may emerge. That creates an entirely different situation.
It is very early in the offseason workout circuit. Teams are just getting together for the first time as a whole in 2023. That newness creates a reluctancy to make certain moves. Like abandoning your second-year passer, admitting defeat on a failed signing or giving the keys to your rookie QB. As the summer rolls on though, the newness wears off.
As the newness subsides, certain teams may be forced to accept their fate and make a move to bolster their chances of winning in 2023. Most coaches in the NFL live on a hot seat and some may be motivated to make a move with their job status in mind. Here are two situations to watch as the offseason goes on.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders released long-time passer Derek Carr earlier this offseason in a financially-motivated move. They pivoted to Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency. Garoppolo made sense as a pairing with head coach Josh McDaniels due to their shared time in New England. McDaniels run a tough-to-learn offense and Garoppolo already knows it.
However, the Garoppolo situation has taken a dark turn. It was reported earlier this week that a physical with Raiders' doctors revealed an issue with Garoppolo's foot and it required surgery. That surgery led to a re-work of Garoppolo's deal, costing him millions in guarantees and putting his future with the Raiders in doubt.
If Garoppolo doesn't heal properly and is unable to pass a physical, his deal could be voided by the Raiders, leaving them without a starting passer. They currently have 37 year old Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O'Connell behind Garoppolo. With the need to win in Vegas this year, those don't seem like feasible options.
If Garoppolo doesn't return to health, the Raiders could be calling the Titans about Tannehill. The Titans would be wise to answer that call and see if they can replenish the draft stock in 2024 with a Tannehill deal.
Atlanta Falcons
Former Titans offensive coordinator and now Atlanta Falcons head coach, Arthur Smith, needs to win in his third season in Atlanta. The Falcons have spent a ton of top picks on offensive talent and added multiple veteran defenders in 2023 free agency in hopes of bolstering that side of the ball.
The Falcons are going all out to try and win this year. The only issue is they are relying on second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder to lead that charge. While the team may be optimistic about Ridder, some of the recent play in organized team activities may have caused some concern.
Ridder has had some accuracy issues that remind some of his blemishes coming out of college. If Ridder continues to struggle, the Falcons, in their desperation to win this year, may call up Smith's former employer and get his former quarterback. Smith knows Tannehill can produce in his offense with a good supporting cast like the one they have in Atlanta.
The final and biggest domino here though is the Titans' interest in a deal. While some see the Titans as a rebuilding team who can't accept it, what actually matters is what the Titans think in the building. If they don't see what's in front of them and truly want to squeeze as much juice out of the Tannehill-Derrick Henry Titans, then they will hold onto him.
The only thing that could change that is one of the young quarterbacks behind Tannehill to step up in a way that makes the team feel comfortable moving on from Tannehill. It isn't likely, but all these situations are worth monitoring. Tannehill is in the last year of his deal and the Titans made a big investment in Levis. The clock is ticking either way.
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