A team that reached the NFL’s Final Four this past year has been extremely busy the last day or so. What are the Tennessee Titans really up to?
It’s been a busy few days for a team that in 2019 dethroned the then-reigning Super Bowl champions, knocked off the team with the best record in the league and pressed the eventual Super Bowl LIV winners – all on the road.
The Tennessee Titans finished with a 9-7 regular-season record for the fourth consecutive year. But this was a club that rallied from a 2-4 start to go 9-4 the remainder of ’19 – including the postseason. The franchise reached the AFC title game for the first time since 2002 and owned a 17-7 second-quarter lead at Arrowhead Stadium before Mike Vrabel’s club succumbed to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-now type of world and the 2020 offseason is in full swing. And it’s obvious that the Titans have some unfinished business. But first things first. The franchise has its share of prominent performer that could become free agents in less than a week. The list includes 2019 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill, the league’s leading rusher in running back Derrick Henry, standout right tackle Jack Conklin and the team’s top tackler in cornerback Ryan Logan.
Within the last day or so, general manager Jon Robinson and the organization have parted ways with running back Dion Lewis, defensive end Cameron Wake, tight end Delanie Walker and kicker Ryan Succop. Via Spotrac, the Titans just opened up roughly a combined $17.9 million in salary cap space. And that leaves Robinson with a little over $64 million (via Spotrac) to get some business done.
Bringing back Henry figures to be the top priority. He has clearly outplayed his rookie contract from 2016, most notably over the past two seasons. Retaining Conklin and Ryan would also be extremely wise moves, especially the latter who did a little bit of everything in 2019.
But it’s hard to ignore the fact that a certain legendary quarterback is about to hit the market. And the Tom Brady/Mike Vrabel connection – teammates with the Patriots and the latter on the end of a few Brady TD tosses – is hard to overlook.
Of course, the Titans may not have gotten as far as they did this past season with Tannehill, who brought a lot of savvy to the Tennessee offense. ESPN’s Turron Davenport takes a look at both players and how both performed this past season.
Will the Titans stand pat and build off last season’s impressive showing with Tannehill at the helm? Or does the organization feel that Brady’s experience could be the difference between falling one game short of the Super Bowl and getting to the “Big Game.”
It could be a fascinating few days in Nashville.