With the 2023 NFL Draft upon us this Thursday, there’s bound to be a litany of surprises taking place. However, it’s not just about who will get drafted but who could potentially get traded, as well. One of those players with intriguing trade potential is Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who, if traded to the Atlanta Falcons, could be a perfect fit
Ryan Tannehill Trade to the Atlanta Falcons Makes Sense
The Atlanta Falcons are in a bit of a quandary as it pertains to Arthur Smith heading into the 2023 season. Smith is entering Year 3 and is still in the midst of rebuilding an Atlanta squad that doesn’t seem anywhere close to making the playoffs. Smith’s head coaching record is 14-20 with zero playoff appearances.
Smith needs to make significant progress in 2023.
The current No. 8 draft pick holders are still in some definite needs heading into Thursday’s draft where they could make some differences to their roster. The question is, how will they go about it?
The Falcons are one of the many teams that could shake up the entire draft. They’re not top three or five, but still being in the top 10 makes their decision of vested interest. A good reason for the interest is that the Falcons still don’t have a sure thing behind center. Matt Ryan is gone; Marcus Mariota is gone — even though I’m sure no Falcons fans are clamoring for either of their returns. Even with Smith announcing that Desmond Ridder would be the starter in 2023, things could always change, including drafting or trading for a quarterback.
Falcons Draft Scenarios
- They could stick with the No. 8 pick, picking a must-needed edge rusher that they’ve needed for the last couple seasons. This seems the most likely, but certainly not a given.
- If still available, Bijan Robinson has been a rumored pick. But would they draft a running back that high? Smith has already shown his offense is going to concentrate on running the ball.
- They pick the best quarterback available. The quarterbacks in this draft are full of question marks, so who knows who will be available by the eighth pick. Are they interested in any of them?
- The Falcons trade back. If they feel someone like Robinson (or someone else) could still be available later, then trading picks with a team like the Titans, with Tannehill included in the deal, along with a later round pick from the Falcons, this could be ideal — even if most Falcons fans don’t want it.
Tannehill Was Best Under Smith
Tannehill, 34, would be the Falcons best option at quarterback entering 2023. Better yet, it seems he’s available. Most Falcons fans would probably scoff at that because they’ve seen the woeful Tannehill in his last couple of playoff appearances with the Titans. He was less than stellar, throwing three picks in last years AFC Divisional Round against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he and the Titans made the playoffs every year from 2019 to 2021, which is something the Falcons can’t say. Tannehill, believe it or not, had a large part to do with that.
It was during Tannehill’s greatest statistic season (2019) where he led the league with a quarterback rating of 117.5. More importantly, his offensive coordinator was none other than current Falcons head coach Smith. Smith’s work with Derrick Henry and Tannehill is ultimately what made him a hot coaching name when he was hired by the Falcons.
Tannehill looked completely rejuvenated during the 2019 season where the Titans made it all the way to the AFC Championship game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Smith, deservedly so, gets a lot of credit for that due to Tannehill’s decline since his departure from Tennessee. Who’s to say that Smith and Tannehill couldn’t work in 2023?
Tannehill Trade To Falcons Best Option To Make Playoffs
At this point in both of their careers — Smith’s hopeful ascendance as a head coach and Tannehill’s last years as starting quarterback — this coach and player combo is in need of each other. Smith’s Falcons, although still at a long distance from being cast with the top tier teams in the league, are still desperately in need of a promising season, moreover, the playoffs.
It’s true the verdict is still out on Ridder. No one truly knows what he’s capable of at the NFL level entering his second season. But the Tannehill and Smith connection is a proven formula — at least enough so for Smith to potentially save his job. The average tenure for an NFL head coach is around 3 seasons. This is Smith’s third.
Tannehill is not the quarterback that Falcons fans want. It may not even really be the quarterback Smith wants. But there has to be — or there should be — a sense of urgency among those around Flowery Branch, Ga to win and win in a hurry. And while it may not be the best move the franchise could make, it’s the best move currently, likely not costing them a lot of their draft capital. It seems reasonable that they could switch first-round picks with the Titans, while exchanging a third or fourth-round pick for Tannehill.
Ryan Tannehill Trade To Falcons Important To Franchise Future
Tannehill would be nothing more for the Falcons than Mariota was to them last season, minus that of actually progressing the team forward unlike Mariota. Because if Ridder is the future, he needs an experienced mentor. Currently, Taylor Heinicke and Logan Woodside are the only other Falcons quarterbacks.
Tannehill isn’t the future of the Falcons, he’s wouldn’t be their franchise quarterback leading them for the next decade. However, he is important to their future, especially if Smith is to be the guy to build it.
Main Photo: Robert Hanashiro – USA Today Sports
