As the football world continues to wait on what the Tennessee Titans will do at the quarterback position in 2023, one potential option for Ryan Tannehill is landing with the New York Jets.
According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets are higher on Tannehill than many people realize, and he says “don’t sleep” on the veteran signal-caller finding a new home in New York in 2023.
However, it’s very important to note that Hughes says Tannehill is likely fourth in the pecking order in terms of the Jets’ preferred options, sitting behind Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo.
A Carr consolation prize wouldn’t be the worst thing. He’s a very underrated passer. The New Orleans Saints appear the frontrunners for him, though, and there are some concerns across the league with how Carr’s personality would mesh in New York. Garoppolo (familiar with Saleh) will be linked to New York if the team misses on Rodgers and Carr. Don’t sleep on Tannehill. There’s a feeling around the NFL that the Jets are much higher on him than some want to believe.
Of course, Tannehill is still under contract, so unless the Titans decide to cut him, the Jets would have to strike a trade with Tennessee to acquire him.
It isn’t clear what the Titans could get in return for Tannehill if they trade him, but I think they could fetch at least a Day 2 pick, partly because Tennessee has to pick up half of his $36.6 million salary.
If the Jets do strike out on their other options and get desperate, it’s feasible the Titans could squeeze out more.
But Tennessee’s interest in cutting or trading Tannehill will depend upon what the team’s options are under center if they move on from him. Right now, the Titans don’t have that answer on the roster.
Tennessee is reportedly expected to be interested in Derek Carr, but as I wrote at the time that move wouldn’t make sense for the cash-strapped Titans.
That’s because Carr is a lateral move at best, and quite honestly I’d prefer Tannehill because of his mobility, which is pretty much vital in today’s NFL.
Adding to that, the lateral move would likely cost the Titans more than they would have to pay Tannehill. Carr will likely command around at least $30 million, and that’ll be on top of Tennessee paying out $18.8 million in dead money.
I just don’t see the Titans doing all that unless it’s for a major upgrade like Aaron Rodgers, who I think has a slim-at-best chance to land in Tennessee thanks to all the issues this team has to fix on offense.
I expect the Jets to land one of their top-three options listed by Hughes (my prediction is Jimmy G), and for Tannehill to remain in Nashville for one more year.
If Tannehill does land in New York, he would do so with some familiar faces. The Jets hired Todd Downing as their passing game coordinator and Keith Carter as their offensive line coach recently.
