BREAKING NEWS: Broncos Floated to Land $196 Former Pro Bowl QB in Free Agency
The Denver Broncos have opted to maintain their roster after releasing Russell Wilson, leaving him exposed to the yearly quarterback shuffle during free agency. This decision has positioned them to start the season with Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback. They might consider adding a rookie to create competition during training camp, although bringing in a veteran could be necessary due to the limited experience within the quarterback group.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports proposes that the Broncos should sign Ryan Tannehill, a former Tennessee Titan.
Benjamin highlighted that despite the lack of a quarterback addition by Denver so far in the offseason, Tannehill’s seasoned skills could be an asset, especially with his ability to adapt to a specific system, similar to what Sean Payton prefers. At 35 years old, Tannehill may be viewed as a short-term solution compared to Jarrett Stidham being the current best option.
In 2023, Tannehill completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,616 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions while playing for the Titans. He started eight games out of the 10 games he appeared in, marking the lowest number of starts in his career across both metrics. Following a benching in favor of 2023 second-round pick Will Levis starting from Week 8 after the bye week, Tannehill initially declined to mentor 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis before eventually taking a more supportive approach towards Levis.
Tannehill took the field for three additional games, making two starts from Weeks 16 to 18 to conclude the season. During this period, he completed 70.8% of his passes, accumulating 488 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
#Titans QB @ryantannehill1 on learning the news of @will_levis being named the starter.
Said it’s “hard”, but he’s going to be a good teammate. pic.twitter.com/VEUbplLJqU
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) November 8, 2023
Originally chosen as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Miami Dolphins, Tannehill has earned 119 million contract extension he agreed to with the Titans in 2020.
With a career touchdown rate of 4.5%, the former Pro Bowler is ranked 16th out of 23 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 3,000 passes since 2012, according to Stathead.
How Ryan Tannehill Matches with Sean Payton, Broncos
According to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel, the Broncos have been focusing on younger players in their recent search for options, with Brian Hoyer at 38, Ryan Tannehill at 36, and Carson Wentz at 31. Despite this trend, the team has refrained from making moves for the sake of adding players and may not rely solely on a first-round draft pick for acquisitions.
Tannehill potentially aligns with the experience level the Broncos are seeking. In 2023, he ranked seventh in the NFL for quickest time to release the ball according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Pro Football Focus noted that Tannehill could serve as a transitional starting quarterback for a young prospect. Tannehill is recognized for his athleticism, effectiveness with play-action plays, and decent mid-range accuracy, especially on rollouts to both sides of the field. It is mentioned that his rate of turning pressures into sacks has been a concern, but this could be attributed to the challenges he faced with a weak offensive line and receiving group that struggles to create separation quickly.
