The start of the 2024 NFL season is less than a month away, and Ryan Tannehill still doesn’t have a team. A first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tannehill has never been a superstar but has provided a steadying presence every time he’s lined up under center. Tannehill guided the Titans to three straight playoff births from 2019 to 2022 but lost the starting job to a rookie Will Levis midway through the 2023 season. Now a free agent, Tannehill has yet to find a home for the upcoming campaign.
That could be changing soon. The Baltimore Ravens don’t have a proven option behind reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, and that lack of depth showed up in the preseason opener. As a team, Baltimore finished with just 82 passing yards while scoring an underwhelming 13 points. RavensWire’s Dustin Cox believes Baltimore should sign Ryan Tannehill, but they might need to fend off another team to do it.
Ryan Tannehill Next Team: Ravens, Chargers In the Running
Let’s start with a disclaimer: Ryan Tannehill might not want to sign with a team right now. While the veteran is no Patrick Mahomes, he’s better than several players who have already signed backup contracts throughout the league. Seeing as he’s still unsigned, there’s a decent chance Tannehill is waiting for an opportunity to start. Barring injury, that won’t happen in Baltimore or Los Angeles.
However, for the sake of argument, let’s say Ryan Tannehill is willing to sign with a team as a backup quarterback. If that happens, he could do a lot worse than the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson will be the starter as long as he’s healthy, but the two-time MVP missed significant time in two of the past three seasons. The Ravens could use a capable backup, and Tannehill is easily the best player left on the market.
We know that Ryan Tannehill can be effective while sharing a backfield with Derrick Henry, and the team has arguably the best collection of pass-catching talent in Tannehill’s career. While nobody here is as good as prime A.J. Brown, Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers are a strong duo. Additionally, Tannehill’s collegiate days as a wide receiver means that he’ll have the athleticism to execute Jackson’s playbook, albeit not at as high of a level.
The Other Suitors
While several teams could use a better backup quarterback, few are in a more desperate position than the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Hebert is battling a plantar fascia injury and should be back on the field by Week 1, but reports across the league indicate he’ll be playing through pain all year long. Chances are, this team will call on their backup quarterback at some point, and Ryan Tannehill is best equipped to handle that responsibility.
Easton Stick did the best he could in relief of Herbert last year, but he’s simply not a starting-caliber quarterback. The former fifth-round pick isn’t making the most of his opportunities, as spring football superstar Luis Perez is reportedly pushing for the primary backup job. Ryan Tannehill is considerably better than either of these players, and the Chargers could use someone like him on their team.
Main Photo: Denny Simmons – USA Today Sports
