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Tennessee Titans: What the Ryan Tannehill trade means for Mariota’s future

By Colton Pickard

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans warms up before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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It looks like we might have a quarterback battle coming to Nashville in 2019. Ryan Tannehill was traded recently to the Titans as Tennessee looks for a possible post-Mariota option.

The Titans sent a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick to Miami in exchange for the injury-prone quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tennessee isn’t getting the quarterback alone though; they will also be receiving a 2019 sixth-round pick. So, did Tennessee make the right move to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete for the starting job or did they get another average quarterback?

Ryan Tannehill has had knee problems, forcing him to sit out 24 games since 2016. Marcus Mariota has yet to play a full season since coming into the league in 2015. Both riddled with injuries, but only one can be the Titans full-time starting quarterback.

In Tannehill’s last fully healthy season he threw for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Mariota has never hit the 3,500-yard mark in his career nor has he reached 27 touchdowns in a single season. Don’t get too excited yet Mariota haters because regardless of previous stats it is doubtful Tannehill takes the starting job in 2019.

Mariota’s injury history is a big concern for the Titans so bringing in a player like Tannehill who can fill in the gaps when Mariota is out is the right decision. Tannehill has experience as a starter so he won’t choke under pressure like many of the Titans backups have in recent years. Mariota is almost guaranteed to go out at some point during the season though, so having a guy like Tannehill will ease some nerves going into the 2019 season.

This Titans team is good enough to win the AFC South, and Tannehill has never had a team good enough to win a division championship so he could thrive in Nashville. Going into the season Mariota will more than likely be the starter, but if Mariota goes out and Tannehill steps in and returns to his old self before the knee injuries, don’t be surprised if Tannehill takes over the offense for the rest of the season and possibly in the coming seasons.

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