The Tennessee Titans have just emerged from an AFC championship appearance in their most successful season in over a decade. They were taken to the precipice of the Super Bowl by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and ball carrier Derrick Henry, who are both unfortunately ready to strike free will this offseason. While Henry led the league in rushing yards and shined in the playoffs, paying runners with a lot of money is not always the best solution. Tannehill won the Associated Press Returning Player of the Year award in 2019, but the Titans must be wondering if he’s just a one-year wonder or if he’s the quarterback of the future for Tennessee.
At the NFL last week, the big decisions Tennessee faced were a topic of popular conversation, and ESPN’s Matthew Berry says he has a good idea of what the Titans will end up doing. According to a “Titan insider” with whom Berry has spoken, he expects the team to franchise the Henry tag if it cannot accept a long-term deal, and authorize Tannehill to test the open market.
The tone of this report is consistent with the way Titans general manager Jon Robinson spoke during a conversation with reporters in Indianapolis last week. Robinson said the Titans would do “all we can to try to keep (Henry),” saying “we will see how it goes” speaking on Tannehill.
While the Titans would like to keep Henry for years to come, CBS NFL insider Jason La Canfora has warned that Tennessee must heed warning signs and avoid paying Henry. Marking Henry might be a better decision than signing him for a long-term, lucrative extension.
“Mark them twice if you have to, then keep going. It may be cruel, but the NFL economy dictates it. Even with an inflated salary cap, I would spend my money elsewhere.”
Allowing Tannehill to hit the free market does not necessarily mean that he will leave the Titans. With quarters like Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater on the open market, supply outweighs demand. If Tannehill wants to stay in Nashville, it is very possible that the two parties will reach an agreement. Either way, it should be fascinating to see it all play out in the coming months.
