With a lack of experience behind Ryan Tannehill, the Tennessee Titans are going to be keeping their eye on the backup quarterback market right up until training camp.
If camp started today, the competition at backup quarterback would be between Logan Woodside and Cole McDonald, neither of whom have ever taken a regular season snap.
If the Titans so choose, there are five solid veteran backup quarterback options still on the open market, although some are more realistic for Tennessee than others.
Cam Newton
Without a shadow of a doubt, Newton is by far the least likely option on this list for the Titans to add, although he is also undoubtedly the best of the bunch as far as available backup quarterbacks are concerned.
Newton is reportedly open to taking a backup job for 2020 and the Titans are one of the more attractive destinations in that regard, partly because they sport a quarterback-friendly offense and weapons in the passing game.
Adding to that, the Titans’ starter, Ryan Tannehill, has been susceptible to injury during his career, so the backup job in Tennessee could offer a better chance to play than some others out there.
A lot would have to fall in place to bring the former MVP to Nashville, though.
Not only would he have to not get a better opportunity with a clearer path to starter, Newton would also have to take a small salary if the Titans sign Jadeveon Clowney. It’s not likely, but we did see Jameis Winston ($1.1 million) sign for next to nothing, so it can’t be ruled out.
As Tannehill showed last season, the Titans are definitely a place where a fallen quarterback can revive his career. Adding Newton would also ensure that the Titans don’t miss a beat if Tannehill were to get hurt thanks to their similar skill sets.
Joe Flacco
You’ll hear moans and groans when talking about Flacco as a starter at this point in his career — or really at any point in his career — but that’s not what the Titans would need him for.
The truth is, Flacco is on the upper-echelon of backup options still available with his mounds of playoff experience and Super Bowl ring, and he’s still a competent quarterback who can utilize an offense’s weapons.
Flacco wouldn’t have to do much, either. Like Tannehill, Flacco could thrive off of play action with defenses so focused on stopping Derrick Henry.
The only problem is he doesn’t have anywhere near the kind of athleticism Tannehill has, which would limit the Titans’ offense a bit. But if Flacco can keep the Titans afloat with his arm, we can overlook his non-existent mobility.
Blake Bortles
Believe it or not, if we’re talking about realistic options (Newton isn’t very realistic) for the Titans to sign, Bortles is the best of the bunch because of what he brings to the table.
With his combination of a big arm and athleticism, Bortles would fit in almost seamlessly in place of Tannehill. Bortles still gives the Titans options with bootlegs and he can make all the throws off of play action.
Not to mention, he should come cheap, as Bortles made just $1 million as Jared Goff’s backup with the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Bortles also has starting experience and has played deep into the playoffs before after the Jags were just one quarter away from making it to the Super Bowl in 2017.
Matt Moore
After signing Chad Henne, the Kansas City Chiefs no longer have the need for Moore, who was the team’s backup in 2019.
Moore has plenty of experience, as he’s played in 52 games during his career and made 32 starts. In three games in place of Patrick Mahomes last season (two starts), Moore completed 65 percent of his passes for 659 yards and four touchdowns to zero interceptions.
The 35-year-old doesn’t offer anything in the way of athleticism, but he’d be a steady hand in the event of an emergency.
Trevor Siemian
Siemian ran into some tough luck with the New York Jets last season in his first and only start after suffering a season-ending injury against the Cleveland Browns.
The 28-year-old does have past starting experience, though.
In 2016 and 2017, Siemian made a total of 24 starts (played 25 games in total) and completed 59 percent of his passes for 5,686 yards and 30 touchdowns to 24 interceptions.
Siemien doesn’t offer much in terms of athleticism, but certainly more than Moore or Flacco.
