After much speculation since about Tennessee being a likely destination for six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, the team is preparing to go in a different direction.
After making four roster moves that saw the much-anticipated releasing of both Dion Lewis and Cameron Wake and the slightly unexpected release of Ryan Succop and Delanie Walker, the Titans freed up an additional $19 million in cap space ahead of the free agency signing period.
While they still hope to sign running back Derrick Henry to a long-term deal at some point, the team is preparing to make a modest offer to a signal-caller. Rather than the much-speculated interest in Tom Brady, they are preparing to do whatever it takes financially to re-sign last season’s Cinderella quarterback and Comeback Player of the Year, Ryan Tannehill.
After being traded from Miami to the Titans last offseason, just two years removed from a big contract extension, many thought his career as a starting quarterback in the NFL were over. After fifth-year starter Marcus Mariota struggled through the first six weeks of the season, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel decided it was time for a switch.
That decision turned the entire Titans season around. Tannehill’s arm and Henry’s legs led the team to the playoffs. Then, they upset both the Patriots and the heavily-favored Baltimore Ravens only to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
The front office liked what they saw and are playing to build on last season. Locking up Tannehill and perhaps Henry will all but solidify the offensive side of the ball if they can manage to keep right tackle Jack Conklin from leaving for Cleveland or New York as speculated.
