Patrick Mahomes is a bigger bargain than Ryan Tannehill.

The numbers on the contract extension Patrick Mahomes got from the Kansas City Chiefs are staggering. The new 10-year deal makes it a 12-year commitment in total, worth just over $500 million at the fully fleshed out potential.

The Chiefs had Mahomes under control for two more years, so he is getting $45 million per year in new money on a 10-year, $450 million extension. He was already due $27.63 million over the next two years, which extends into a window of the free agent deals other quarterbacks got this offseason.

Ryan Tannehill had the best year of his career with the Tennessee Titans last year, ahead of hitting free agency. Then, instead of especially pursuing anyone else (Tom Brady, Philip Rivers), the Titans re-signed him to a four-year, $118 million contract ($62 million guaranteed).

After fleshing out the early known details of Mahomes’ contract, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk offered a couple of interesting tidbits.

Over the next three and four years, the full span of his contract in the latter case, Tannehill is slated to make more in raw dollars than Mahomes. Of course Mahomes, for better or worse as the salary cap rises and the quarterback market encroaches on him, will have a lot of time and money left on his deal at that point. Tannehill might be looking for a job.

The idea Tannehill will see all $118 million of his contract is foolish and unlikely, especially if he doesn’t play nearly as well as he did in 2019. But the broader point still stands. The Titans ponied up to pay Tannehill coming off a career year, rooted in the name of continuity with fingers crossed he’ll keep playing at a high level. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have made a long-term investment in Mahomes, who could become the best quarterback the NFL has ever seen.

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What if Colin Kaepernick backed up Ryan Tannehill on the Tennessee Titans?

Colin Kaepernick to the Tennessee Titans would certainly make some noise in the Music City.

It has been three years since the former starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers have played in the NFL. His kneeling during the playing of the national anthem got in the way of his message when he was last with the 49ers in 2016. But with the political climate changing in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, could we see Kaepernick back in the NFL in 2020?

It’s not going to be anywhere near as taboo as it would have been even a year ago. Depending on the right schematic fit and situation, Kaepernick could find himself back in the league at some point in the not-so-distant future. ESPN football analyst Mina Kimes thinks the Titans have to be one of the better landing spots for the former San Francisco signal-caller.

Kimes argues that Kaepernick would need to go to a situation where there is a starting quarterback firmly entrenched, as well as to a winning organization that can handle the uptick in media coverage. Tennessee just paid Ryan Tannehill a ton of money this offseason and the Titans were one game away from reaching the Super Bowl in franchise history. Can it work in Nashville?

Colin Kaepernick to the Tennessee Titans is a fit we’re not thinking about.

To say Tannehill is firmly entrenched is a bit of a stretch. Yes, he’s been a starting quarterback in this league for going on a decade. However, he’s coming off a career year in which he started the campaign as Marcus Mariota’s backup. Tannehill’s former employer in the Miami Dolphins punted on him after seven up-and-down seasons in South Florida.

When people think of high-end functioning NFL organizations, the Titans aren’t won of the first dozen that would come to mind. That’s not to say that they aren’t trending in the right direction under the leadership of owner Amy Adams Strunk, general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel, but this franchise had been irrelevant for a long time for a reason.

Tennessee has not win the AFC South since Jeff Fisher was the coach and Kerry Collins was his quarterback back in 2008. That was Collins’ second Pro Bowl season, but it was alarming how quickly Fisher moved off No. 3 overall pick Vince Young. Tennessee has started a lot of quarterbacks since the last time the Titans one the division.

But what helps Kimes’ case more than anything is the Titan’s lackluster backup situation. If Tannehill were to go down, which could happen given the way he plays the position as a mobile dual-threat quarterback, it would be The Logan Woodside Show in Nashville. Unless you grew up with Toledo Rockets season tickets, who’s going to play to see that for extended stretches?

Overall, Tennessee should be one of the top-eight teams in the AFC this year. Along with the Indianapolis Colts, they are in contention to win the divisional crown, with the Houston Texans chomping at their heels. If Tennessee is pushing for a playoff spot, but Tannehill succumbs to injury, perhaps Kaepernick could be called upon to save the Titans’ season?

Though there are other teams out there, Kaepernick to the Titans makes more sense than most.

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Ryan Tannehill is a prime candidate for regression in 2020, but that doesn’t mean the Titans can’t win big with him at quarterback.

The Titans benefited massively from the installation of Ryan Tannehill as their starting quarterback in 2019. He combined with running back Derrick Henry to lead Tennessee on an impressive postseason run. The Titans coaching staff shouldn’t bet on Tannehill to play at the same level in 2020.

That doesn’t mean Tennessee isn’t going to return to the playoffs. Tannehill’s new four-year, $118 million contract might be a significant overpay, but he still projects to be a very competent quarterback in 2020. Titans fans should pay attention to the following five reasons to learn why their team is well-positioned to make noise in the AFC South.

5. Tannehill knows what he can and can’t do

Tannehill might have been guilty of trying to do too much during his tenure with the Dolphins, but he’s improved his decision-making as his career has progressed. The sterling completion percentage of 70.2 he posted during his 12 games of action last season shows just how efficient he can be.

Even more importantly, Tannehill just doesn’t turn the football over. He only threw six interceptions in his 286 passing attempts a season ago. That means he doesn’t put his defense in positions where they need to overcome his mistakes.

Ball control will continue to be a point of emphasis for the Titans in 2020. Part of Tannehill’s appeal is that he doesn’t take unnecessary chances down the field. That might not make him the most fun quarterback to watch in the NFL, but it will help the Titans return to the playoffs. He’s just the sort of steady signal-caller the team wants to preside over their run-heavy offense.

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Derrick Henry and the Titans are talking about a long-term deal, but the running back’s camp should have some level of urgency.

Coming off leading the league in rushing last year, and a fantastic playoff run, the Tennessee Titans used the franchise tag on running back Derrick Henry. He signed the tender, guaranteeing him $10.2 million this year, but talks about a multi-year deal have been ongoing.

Titans general manager Jon Robinson spoke positively on the status of those talks, as the July 15 deadline for a multi-year deal looms.

“He wants to get something done,” Robinson said. “We want to get something done, and we’re working toward that. It’s about coming to that common-ground spot as it is in every negotiation. We’re anxious to keep the conversations going and keep talking through things.”

Why Derrick Henry should get his deal done before Dalvin Cook

The running back position has been devalued, with the recent potholes of deals given to Todd Gurley, Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell hurting those who are following on the road to getting paid.

Dalvin Cook is in a different situation than Henry, entering the final year of his rookie deal with the Vikings as a former second-round pick. A holdout doesn’t seem practical for Cook, with a new CBA hurting him if he stays away too long, but he has still threatened it. The Vikings can just hold their ground, and a deal will probably get done before training camp.

Similar to Cook with the Vikings, Henry is the centerpiece of the Titans’ offense. But while Cook is involved in the passing game and a dynamic threat in that area, Henry is not a prolific pass catcher (18 receptions on 24 targets for 206 yards last year). So any strict comparison of the two doesn’t fit.

Cook’s new deal is in line to put him in the top-5 among running backs in average annual value, somewhere in the $13 million per year range. Henry’s workload last year, with a league-high 303 carries in the regular season and 83 more totes in three playoff games, adds a measure of risk as the Titans consider paying him handsomely.

Nothing would stop either situation from being resolved in the meantime, but deadlines drive action. So it’s worth noting the July 15 deadline for Henry and the Titans to reach a multi-year agreement comes roughly two weeks before the Vikings and Cook theoretically should get a deal done.

From Henry’s side there’s a case for waiting to see what Cook gets, then his asking price would feel more concrete. Leaving aside that July 15 deadline though, Henry and his agent should be looking to get a deal done with the Titans as soon as possible. That doesn’t mean he should take less than what he’s worth, somewhere in the same range as what Cook will get, but there’s nothing wrong with getting something done ahead of the curve to give an old-school workhorse back some security.

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The Tennessee Titans reached the AFC Championship Game last year. Now, they look to traverse the 2020 NFL schedule to reach even greater heights.

Weeks 1-4

Final

Tennessee Titans

21

Denver Broncos

24

Drew Lock looked impressive near the end of last season. Lock will look to continue to play well, especially with the additions of Melvin Gordon and Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos-Titans game looks like an even match on paper, but the Broncos will take the victory thanks to a late field goal from Brandon McManus.

Final

Jacksonville Jaguars

21

Tennessee Titans

24

Even though the Jaguars are in the running for the No.1 overall pick, they put up a good fight. Unfortunately, the battle against the Titans goes south for them. Tannehill giving the ball to Brown or Henry won’t be enough to give the Jaguars a win. This should lock the Titans into a Wild Card position once again.

Final/OT

Tennessee Titans

30

Minnesota Vikings

33

Playing against one of the league’s best defenses is a challenge. Yet when it comes to Minnesota, the Titans must step up to the plate and deliver. They’re built to play against a team like the Vikings, yet it’s Minnesota’s offense will be too much for the Titans to keep up with all afternoon.

Final

Pittsburgh Steelers

28

Tennessee Titans

20

Pittsburgh is always a tough team to play against. Great head coach in Mike Tomlin, a ferocious defense which pressures the quarterback and a fantastic offensive line. If Ben Roethlisberger is back and healthy, he’s the difference here.

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The Tennessee Titans are coming off a stunning run to the AFC Championship Game, making their 2020 schedule a fascinating one to track.

Few people had the Tennessee Titans as a serious playoff threat entering the 2019 season. Marcus Mariota was still the Titans’ quarterback at the start of the year, but he quickly lost his job to veteran Ryan Tannehill.

The move to Tannehill, whom the Titans had acquired for a pair of draft picks from the Miami Dolphins, clearly energized the team. Tannehill managed the offense, which leaned heavily on the talents of Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, while Tennessee’s defense helped form the core of a winner.

A late-season surge, combined with a collapse by the Pittsburgh Steelers, allowed the Titans to snag the final wild-card spot in the AFC. Tennessee then proceeded to wreak havoc on the postseason picture, riding Henry past the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

The magic carpet ride came to an end there as Tennessee blew a 10-point lead to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The playoff push may have altered the Titans’ approach to the offseason since the team opted to sign Tannehill to an extension and use the franchise tag to retain Henry.

There have been some departures from Tennessee this winter, including Jack Conklin and Jurrell Casey, but the Titans remain a threat to win their division in 2020. An AFC South title would bring playoff football back to Nashville for the first time since 2008, which would be a significant boost to Tennessee’s chances of getting to the Super Bowl.

The Titans do have a challenging schedule featuring matchups against teams like the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Steelers and Houston Texans. It is manageable, however, so Tennessee does have a path to the division title if it takes care of its own business.

When the full 2020 NFL schedule is released, this post will be updated immediately with game dates, times and broadcast information. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the home and road opponents for the Titans in 2020.

Tennessee Titans 2020 NFL Schedule

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For a long stretch, the Indianapolis Colts had the best quarterbacks in the AFC South. Peyton Manning from about 1999 to his final season with the Colts in 2010. And then, Andrew Luck for five of his six years in the NFL.

In a division that has not had many teams with stable quarterback situations, the Houston Texans have had to cycle through several signal callers since 2010. Matt Schaub, when healthy, was the starter from about 2007-13. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Case Keenum got starts after Schaub.

Following the Schaub days; Tom Savage, Brock Osweiler and Brian Hoyer got the bulk of the starts. Then, in ’17, the Deshaun Watson era began.

With the Tennessee Titans, Marcus Mariota was the main starter from 2015-18. In the years before him, some names the Titans had to turn to were Jack Locker, Matt Hasselbeck, Zach Mettenberger and Fitzpatrick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had David Garrard, as well as many other signal callers in the past 10 years. Since Garrard’s last season in 2010, the Jaguars have gone through players such as Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, Blake Bortles, Cody Kessler, Nick Foles and now Gardner Minshew II.

Now, how does the division rank?

OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 15: Quarterback Gardner Minshew II #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars sits on the bench during the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum on December 15, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Oakland Raiders 20-16. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Gardner Minshew: 2019 – 3,271 yards, 21 Total TD, 6 INT.

Prior to last season, Nick Foles signed a lucrative contract to become the new starter for the Jaguars. He threw eight passes before getting injured in Week 1.

Gardner Minshew, a sixth-round pick who played college football at Washington State and East Carolina, came in and took the job from the injured Foles.

When Foles returned from injury, Minshew was benched for a couple of games before Doug Marrone gave him the starting role for the rest of the season.

At times, Minshew played well for the Jaguars. In his 12 starts, he went 6-6. He was steady for Marrone.

Minshew threw at least one touchdown in every start besides two. He also threw multiple interceptions in a single game once.

The 23-year old kept the Jaguars competitive and positioned the team to win. Foles has since gone to the Chicago Bears, meaning it is Minshew for the time being in Jacksonville.

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Isaiah Wilson #OL52 of Georgia interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The Tennessee Titans entered the draft hoping to build on their incredible late season run. How well did they fare with their six picks?

29

Isaiah Wilson

OT Georgia

On the one hand, it’s hard to fault the Tennessee Titans for making the first round selection that they did in Isaiah Wilson. Picking late in the first round, the draft’s best tackle prospects were already long gone and even the projects had started to be taken (e.g. Austin Jackson). In addition, if they waited another round, then even the upside cupboard would have likely been barren.

On the other hand, Isaiah Wilson is much more of a project at this point than what they needed to go given that so many excellent players—ready-made to plug and play for instant impact—were still available. In fact, entire position groups were yet untouched when the Titans submitted their virtual card with Wilson’s name on it—yet they selected him anyway.

The Titans can only hope and trust in their ability to develop the loads of natural talent that Wilson possesses. He’s big and strong and athletic and most of the things you’d want your tackle to be. He also needs work on his hands, his footwork, his recognition—basically he’s going to have to play his way into his potential.

Given the loss of Jack Conklin in free agency and the presence of Dennis Kelly as his replacement, it’s likely that Wilson simply learns on the fly even if that means some painful lessons learned along the way. Such is life for teams who need solid bookends these days.

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