Report On Tannehill's Trade Availability Not A Surprise

Over the weekend, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was available to be traded. This shouldn't have come as a surprise and isn't new news.

Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - It should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the Tennessee Titans this offseason that quarterback Ryan Tannehill and his colossal contract are and have been on the trading block since the Titans walked off the field in Jacksonville after the final game of the regular season. 

So when Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported this over the weekend, I barely took notice. I don't consider it bug news, though some might, and I'm not taking a shot at Fowler for doing his job and reporting what he knows. He did what he is paid to do.

Still, it has been discussed and widely accepted that should the Titans find the proper compensation, their veteran signal-caller, and his $36.6 million contract could be had.  

The question is not whether some quarterback-needy team might want Tannehill on their roster. It's can they afford his contract, and will they be willing to pay the Titans anything more than taking the entire contract? 

The Titans have a plan and are good with trading or keeping Tannehill. Of course, a lot of that plan could revolve around how this week's draft unfolds and whether they draft a quarterback of the future.

Of course, the option remains for the Titans to cut him and gain $27 million toward spending on the third wave of free agents, but that would mean that they are confident in whoever they might draft, trade for, or are ready to roll with Malik Willis as their starter.   

One school of thought, though I don't think it's in Mike Vrabel's DNA, is to 'tank it" by going with Willis and seeing what happens. If it goes wrong, the Titans would be in a position to select at the top of the 2024 draft, where the current reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC and North Carolina's Drake Maye are the early leaders for the first player taken in that draft.   

Again, I can't see Vrabel being ok with such a move, but then I am not privileged to conversations that might have taken place between him, Ran Carthon, and owner AMy Adams-Strunk. It doesn't seem a likely move, but I can't say it's not been talked about or considered. 

Either way, if Tannehill is traded, or if he stays, this Titans team has a lot of work to do if they are going to be a factor in the race for the AFC South championship this season. 

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