The Tennessee Titans will have a major decision to make next offseason when it comes to quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Tannehill is under contract with Tennessee for two more seasons. The former Texas A&M quarterback's dead cap hit this season ($57.4 million) made it impossible for the Titans to move on from Tannehill this offseason.

Next offseason, however, Tannehill's dead cap hit becomes much more affordable. If Tennessee releases the veteran quarterback after the 2022 season, it will be an $18.8 million dead cap hit. That's obviously more manageable than the $57.4 million cap hit this offseason.

The Titans would save $17.8 million in cap space by releasing Tannehill after the 2022 season.

At this point, the Titans have all but confirmed, via their actions, that they plan to move on from Tannehill after next season.

Unless the soon-to-be 34-year-old quarterback leads the Titans to the Super Bowl this season, his time in Nashville is likely over.

There are two ways the Titans have told us this:

• The selection of quarterback Malik Willis in the 2022 NFL Draft and lack of communication with Tannehill about the team's plan (in other words, the Titans haven't reassured Tannehill he's the long-term starter in Tennessee).
• The report this week from ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Titans looked into trading for Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson this offseason.

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A trade for Rodgers or Watson was always going to be nearly impossible for the Titans due to Tannehill's dead cap hit. There's just no way the franchise could afford to make that move.

But the fact the team even looked into it shows us that they've become disillusioned with Tannehill. Publicly, they're committed to Tannehill in 2022 because it's the only choice they have. Privately, I'm not sure the team is very high on Tannehill entering this season. Otherwise, they wouldn't have looked into potential blockbuster moves that would've placed the team in salary cap hell this season.

I'd be extremely surprised if Tannehill is the starting quarterback in Nashville in 2023. I don't know who it will be — I don't think the team is necessarily counting on Willis to be "the guy" (though they're certainly hoping he will be). If Willis doesn't show enough this season to show he should be the starter in 2023, then I could see Tennessee exploring a trade next offseason for a quarterback (who knows what that landscape will look like after the craziness of this offseason).

Tannehill has an uphill battle ahead of him if he plans to remain the Titans' starter beyond this season. This season will probably be his last shot to prove he can be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Titans.

Featured image via Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports