Ran Carthon’s latest comments make the Titans QB plans more clear
Tennessee Titans GM Ran Carthon spoke to the media on Monday afternoon to preview the 2023 NFL Draft and address a few of the rumors surrounding the organization. The Titans have a been a hot topic around the league during this draft cycle. They are in a unique position with a draft pick that's higher […]
Tennessee Titans GM Ran Carthon spoke to the media on Monday afternoon to preview the 2023 NFL Draft and address a few of the rumors surrounding the organization.
The Titans have a been a hot topic around the league during this draft cycle. They are in a unique position with a draft pick that's higher than usual, a few coveted veteran players on expiring contracts, and an unclear future at quarterback.
Everybody around the NFL wants to know what the Titans are going to do. Will they move up to draft a quarterback? Will they stay and pick at 11? Will they trade back for future assets? What about the possibility of trading Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry?
Reading between the lines of Carthon's comments on Monday, I'm becoming more confident that Ryan Tannehill will return as Tennessee's starting quarterback in 2023.
It's no secret that the Titans have been doing their homework on the upcoming draft class and have considered drafting a QB in the first round of this week's draft.
Tennessee had representatives at the Pro Day of Will Levis, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Hendon Hooker. They later hosted Levis, Richardson, and Hooker for Top 30 visits in Nashville.
With the Titans looks so heavily into first round quarterbacks, it may seem like Ryan Tannehill's future in Tennessee is up in the air. But according to Carthon's comments on Monday, a conversation has already been had between him and Tannehill, and the veteran quarterback knows exactly where he stands with the organization moving forward.
"Just to let you guys in, Ryan and I had a conversation back in February," Carthon told the media. "That was between Ryan and I and Ryan and our organization, so Ryan knows where he stands with us, and that's really all that matters to me."
Why is this conversation between Carthon and Tannehill significant?
Because photos released to the Titans' social media pages show Tannehill has been in Nashville working out with the team during the offseason. It's hard for me to see a 34-year-old veteran quarterback with 143 career starts and good football still left in the tank volunteering for offseason workouts with his team if he was not confident that he'll be there for the upcoming season.
Even if the Titans were to draft a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft, it's entirely possible that Tannehill remains on the roster as Tennessee's starter in 2023 while the rookie QB develops.
At this point, cutting Tannehill for cap savings doesn't seem like it does you any good, and finding a trade partner for Tannehill could prove to be difficult. The New York Jets have officially traded for Aaron Rodgers. The Baltimore Ravens appear to have worked things out with Lamar Jackson after the signing of Odell Beckham Jr.
Who does that leave as a trade partner that would be willing to take on Tannehill's $27 million base salary in 2023 and trade draft picks in the process?
I think Tannehill is going to remain a Titan with an understanding that the organization is going to move in another direction at the end of the season. That's plenty of incentive for Tannehill to buy-in to offseason workouts and prove he can still excel as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
The Titans could try to get a head start on getting their next guy. But even if Tennessee drafts one of Levis, Richardson, Hooker, or even Stroud and plans on having them take over next season, Tannehill is trying to earn that next contract/starting job as an impending free agent.
