As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mull options for their quarterback position, it seems that QB Ryan Tannehill could be a possibility.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several key decisions to make when it comes to crafting the roster in 2020, but none are bigger than the quarterback position.
Current QB Jameis Winston is an unrestricted free agent and is reportedly looking for a deal of $30 million per year. Interestingly enough, Winston threw a league-leading 30 interceptions in 2019, which would account for $1 million per interception should he get that contract.
The Buccaneers are taking into account every single option at the quarterback position in 2020, including re-signing Winston, shopping in free agency or drafting a promising rookie.
Could there be a new name on the radar heading into the spring?
Buccaneer fans have heard about the prospect of potentially signing QB Philip Rivers and using him as a ‘bridge QB’ to the future. However, another name who could becoming available is Titans QB Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill had a ‘resurrection year’ with the Titans this season, serving as a key catalyst to the organization’s playoff run. Tannehill took an offense that was struggling and turned it into one of the top performing units in the league.
He struggled in the playoffs and that’s why there are many rumors that the Titans are looking elsewhere for their next quarterback- potentially at Tom Brady or Teddy Bridgewater– but that could leave the door open for him to come down to Tampa Bay.
While Tannehill certainly wouldn’t be the ‘home-run signing’ that most Buccaneer fans would want, the one thing he was good at in 2019 was not turning the ball over and taking what the defense gives him. Tannehill completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions throughout the season.
His overall QB rating was 117.5, which was more than 30 points higher than Winston’s this season (84.3).
Would the Buccaneers take a chance on a quarterback who has already played seven years in the league and has only had one good season? Or could they let that slide with the understanding that Tannehill was playing for the Miami Dolphins during those first six seasons?
The stats are there and it seems that he’s shown great ability and improvement, but it would certainly stand to reason that any team taking Tannehill on a long-term or lucrative deal would be taking a major gamble. He could very well excel in Bruce Arians’ system with Tampa’s wide receivers, or he could prove to be a one-year wonder and it all come crashing down pretty swiftly.