While the Tennessee Titans have found themselves a starting quarterback for the foreseeable future in Ryan Tannehill, there are still things to be settled at the position when training camp begins on July 28.
Tannehill currently heads the Titans’ quarterback depth chart, with Logan Woodside and 2020 seventh-round pick Cole McDonald filling in behind him.
Let’s take a closer look at the starter and what he needs to work on in camp, as well as the competition behind him and the biggest question the Titans have to answer at the position.
The starter: Ryan Tannehill
What he needs to work on: Chemistry with pass-catchers
The Titans locked Tannehill up with a four-year deal worth $118 million this offseason after he helped revive the offense and take Tennessee on a 7-3 run that turned a 2-4 start into a playoff berth in 2019.
In 2019, Tannehill didn’t have the benefit of getting a full complement of reps with the starting unit, as Marcus Mariota was the starter in training camp. That will obviously change in 2020.
Tannehill getting more reps with the starters in camp should help build chemistry, which will be important considering the Titans will have to spread the ball around more now that A.J. Brown is likely to receive extra attention from opposing defenses after a sensational rookie campaign.
One player Tannehill has talked about improving chemistry with is Corey Davis, so expect that to be a point of emphasis in camp. He has also been working with tight end Jonnu Smith regularly during the coronavirus pandemic, giving the pair a head start for getting on the same page.
Up until this point, Tannehill is doing everything right in terms of building chemistry, and it’s a process that will no doubt continue into training camp.
The competition: Woodside vs. McDonald
For now, the Titans are set to have a competition for the backup quarterback spot between Logan Woodside and 2020 seventh-round pick, Cole McDonald.
However, that could — and should — change, either before or during training camp. We’ll get to that later, but first let’s just pretend McDonald and Woodside will be the Titans’ only options for the backup job.
The only thing these two have in common is that neither have taken a regular season snap in the NFL, as McDonald is an incoming rookie and Woodside has only played in the preseason.
While McDonald is a far more intriguing player and nothing really jumps off the page at you about Woodside, the latter maintains a slight edge over the former in this battle.
After all, Woodside does have a year under his belt learning offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system, and he has the support of his head coach and general manager, both of whom have expressed confidence in him.
Another thing working against McDonald is that he didn’t have a rookie mini-camp, which could hinder his progress.
What Woodside doesn’t have is the kind of skill set McDonald brings to the table. The Hawaii product has a strong arm, elite athleticism and an ideal build for an NFL quarterback, all traits that closely mirror Tannehill’s and could allow the Titans to run mostly the same offense if he gets hurt.
However, McDonald still has a lot of work to do if he’s going to beat out Woodside. The rookie is notorious for having a flawed throwing motion, which forces him to take more time to get rid of the football. He got away with that in college, but won’t be able to do so in the NFL.
McDonald has been working on his release since last year, and that work has continued into this offseason. If he’s going to win the backup job, he’s going to have to show that he can deliver the football accurately with an improved throwing motion.
In 2019, the Titans carried two quarterbacks into the season with Tannehill being a high-end backup to Marcus Mariota. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Tennessee carry three into 2020 if a more experienced backup option isn’t added.
Biggest Question
Will the Titans add a veteran to the competition?
The talk about a competition between Woodside and McDonald might be all for naught at the end of the day, as it’s very possible the Titans bring in an experienced veteran backup to take the No. 2 spot.
And it’s a move the Titans should seriously consider. Tennessee simply can’t allow an injury to Tannehill to completely sink a season in which the team has Super Bowl aspirations because they have to insert an inexperienced quarterback in his place.
The best options remaining on the open market are Matt Moore and Blake Bortles, although I personally prefer Bortles because of his superior athleticism.
No matter who the Titans ultimately land on, it would be irresponsible to not at least add a veteran to the mix in order to make sure the team has the best man for the backup quarterback job.
