Both Mike Vrabel and new GM Ran Carthon have provided relative endorsements for Ryan Tannehill to return for a fifth season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. But a succession plan is clearly being considered.
Carthon trekked to each of the top four quarterback prospects’ pro days, and the Titans are one of the teams who have scheduled a visit with Anthony Richardson, who played at Carthon’s alma mater (Florida). The Titans have become a team to watch regarding a trade-up into the Cardinals’ No. 3 slot, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah said during the latest Move the Sticks podcast (h/t Yardbarker.com).
[RELATED: Breakdown Of Top 2023 QB Prospects]
The Titans hold the No. 11 overall pick. They could certainly be competing with the Raiders and potentially the Seahawks in what may become a bidding war for the Cards’ No. 3 choice. Both teams have been constants at quarterback pro days. Seattle holds the No. 5 overall selection; Las Vegas sits at 7.
It will, of course, cost Tennessee more than either of those teams to trade into that spot. But cost that did not stop Carolina from making an eight-slot vault for the No. 1 overall pick. With an 11-to-3 move will represent the same jump, the Cardinals will be looking for a similar package. The Panthers sent the Bears their 2023 and 2025 second-round picks, their 2024 first-rounder and D.J. Moore. The 49ers moved from 12 to 3 in 2021, the Trey Lance deal. San Francisco needed to send Miami its 2022 and ’23 first-rounders, along with a 2022 third.
The Cardinals appear to be sitting in an ideal spot, being positioned to either select the draft’s top non-quarterback or receive a big trade haul that would help Monti Ossenfort begin his rebuild. The Cards GM spent the past three years with the Titans, who have a quarterback going into an age-35 season. If a Tennessee trade package were to include a player, like Carolina’s did, Ossesnfort would have an advantage here.
Injuries nearly wrecked Tannehill’s career before his resurgence in Nashville. He missed 24 games from 2016-18, most of them due to knee trouble. The former top-10 pick, however, did not miss any time from the time he replaced Marcus Mariota (October 2019) through the end of the 2021 season, when an injury-riddled Titans team rallied to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That came after a Titans trip to the AFC championship game — during a 2019 season in which Tannehill averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, a figure that remains in the top 10 all time — and won the AFC South in 2020. Tannehill missed five games last season and has undergone ankle surgery.
One season remains on Tannehill’s four-year, $118MM contract. He is on the Titans’ books at $36.6MM, which is actually $2MM lower than his 2022 cap number. The 12th-year veteran would make sense as a bridge player for the organization and, if the Titans follow through on a trade-up maneuver, could use this season as a launching pad for a free agency deal elsewhere in 2024.
While C.J. Stroud went to Vrabel’s alma mater, the Panthers are the odds-on favorites to draft the Ohio State alum. Carolina has also been linked to Bryce Young at No. 1, with the less proven Richardson on the radar as well. If Stroud and Young are off the board, teams who view Richardson (13 college starts) as a high-ceiling prospect worth developing will have to deal with the Cardinals to leapfrog the QB-needy Colts. Josh Dobbs has returned to the Browns, and Malik Willis did not look ready to take the reins as a rookie. Carthon has no ties to the 2022 third-rounder. A more coveted QB prospect looks to be on the new GM’s radar.
Cardinals can look for a similar package but won’t get a similar package.
Trading up to # 1 for your choice at QB is not the same as trading up to # 3 for the left overs at QB after Panthers and Texans take their choices.
Titans would be wise to move up to 5 with seattle who just reupped Geno if QB is still available and be ok with staying put or trading back if Seahawks do indeed take Levis or Richardson.
There’s a strong possibility that the Texans don’t go QB at #2. Ryans is a defensive minded HC. So they could realistically take Anderson Jr. Then AZ will be in the driver’s seat for any team, not just the Titans. Hell, HOU could even trade their #12 and a 1st next year (they have CLE 1st as well). That prolly doesn’t make much sense for them, but it’s food for thought.
Seems odd that the Texans would add Keenum to the QB room if they planned on taking a QB in the draft. My guess is that the Texans trade out of that spot – but not all the way down to #11.
I don’t believe adding Case Keenum is going to stop the Texans from drafting a QB… Just veteran leadership of a guy whos led a team (surprisingly) to the playoffs before. Something Davis Mills can’t help with is a winning culture.
Texans fans will riot if they skip taking a top QB prospect in the draft. That’s literally their weakest position and Ryans isn’t crazy (or the GM).
Case Keenum has disappointed almost every team who has hired him. Vet off the bench who isn’t hopeless when your starter goes down, unless you are building a team to tank.
Case Keenum on Houstons bench moves the needle as a coach and mentor. The chance to play and return to Houston where he also started his career and played college ball is why he’s there. Pretty sure Keenum and Ryan were om the same JJ Watt teams in the early 10s
Zero chance Houston passes up this chance to get a signal caller.
Seattle likely won’t flip since they’re in the mix. Geno’s deal is team friendly and no one can guarantee Seattle will draft this high again for quite some time.
Agreed on this.
Trading up for #1 you know you’re going to get your guy. Moving to #3 is risky.
What if Houston or Carolina surprises you and takes the guy you moved up for? Unless you have 3 QBs all rated very similarly…. It’s tough to spend the resources needed to move up until the Cardinals are actually on the clock.
I would think that Ran learned from the Trey Lance move that taking a qb that early already puts natural pressure on them as a rookie. And beyond. This year I’m not convinced that after the top 2 QBs go you’re basically looking at other potential Malik Willis like players. Don’t get me wrong he’s not the freak athlete the others are and thus the third round stock. I just think the Niners should have done there homework and let one fall to them the way the Patriots did. Already hard to be a qb. Now you make huge traded and have a rookie. Not easy
Yeah I didn’t understand that part. Moving from 11 to 3 is completely different than moving from 9 to 1.
I don’t think that it’s a bad idea necessarily to look ahead on a rebuild QB-wise, but their main issue with their current one (who really is not old by QB standards) is that there aren’t any reliable weapons for him to throw to. Drafting a QB might not be a bad idea, but moving up for one when your greater need is at WR and that will problem will affect your successor?
I think that Tennessee can wait before blowing multiple picks on a move upward, especially considering that they will need those picks in oncoming drafts to help with the rebuild and considering that there probably won’t be a generational QB available where ever they move to.
And you can add o-line to their list of dire needs. They need a Johnson or Skoronski at 11more than a QB project that won’t move the needle for them this year.
You’re right. Tennessee needs another WR or two and need to keep Henrys usage down. They basically need 3 play makers and o line help more than QB. Another TE… a Pollard like speed RB. A burner to take the top off. But where they are sitting. I’d go LT and be done with it. No reason to talk QB without an LT
Highly agreed with both of you.
So they’re talking about moving Nuk…why not just trade him for Tannehill and then whatever trade package they can get from Tennessee? Swap the 3 for the 11 and 43? Maybe even a pick next season.
I’m not saying it’s the best option, it’s just AN option for the cardinals who are sort of giving the season away at this point.
Trade back for picks, not up. This team has a lot of holes to fill. Take Hooker late first or early second. Retain Tannehill for another season.
You want hooker to play a rookie season at age 28 LOL
If Indy or Houston don’t take a QB, then they are calling Baltimore very soon after the pick!
Can they draft in the first this year, then trade 2024 & ’25 1st rounders for Lamar?
Screw Lamar. Id pick a new team if he landed on mine
Funny how many of the geniuses here in Pittsburgh were pouting that the Steelers took Pickett over Willis.
Yeah. Ok
Never heard any of that
Why? The Titans have so many holes on this team. A new QB isn’t going make a difference. There’s no offensive weapons outside of Derrick Henry. The recieving corps is beyond weak. The offense is so predictable & the new OC isn’t going to change because he was in charge of the anemic passing offense last season.
Just TANK for 2024……..get picks for Henry(that hurts) and Byrd
Great ! The more teams looking for QB’s the better it is for my Eagles. Either they can get a better non-QB or trade down for more assets !