When it comes to professional football, the offseason can be just as action packed as the regular season.
Because of the salary cap and every player wanting to make what they’re worth, teams have to juggle paying a player, staying under the salary cap, and having a complete roster.
The Tennessee Titans are no different from any other team in this regard, and have notable players on both sides of the ball who will be looking for new contracts after the 2019 season.
Here’s a quick look at who they are where their chances currently stand.
Marcus Mariota (5/10)
Largely due to injury issues, Mariota has been extremely inconsistent throughout his career. Having to start each season with either a new head coach or new offensive coordinator also hasn’t helped matters.
The Titans have a championship caliber team building around the signal-caller, but they’re going to need more consistent quarterback play to get over the hump.
The general argument for Mariota is that when he’s hot — he’s hot. In his first ever NFL game, he posted a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating, and you can’t find a franchise quarterback with special capabilities like that just off the street.
However, as mentioned before with the injuries and lack of consistency, there is projected to be a good group of quarterbacks coming in the 2020 NFL draft, headlined by Tua Tagovailoa, Jake Fromm, and Justin Herbert.
Another thing that factors in is the Titans’ trade for QB Ryan Tannehill earlier this offseason.
Yes, Tannehill is 100% going to be the Titans backup quarterback. However, Tannehill has shown the ability to be able to win football games. If both Mariota and Tannehill struggle, the Titans may elect to use one of these guys as a bridge quarterback while developing one of the previous mentioned rookies in 2020.
Kevin Byard (10/10)
Byard will be resigned by the Titans as the highest paid safety in the league or franchise tagged.
He is only a year removed from leading the league in interceptions, and in 2018, quarterbacks chose to challenge him far less.
With his sideline-to-sideline speed, ability to cover one-on-one, or line up in the box, the Titans would be foolish to even consider letting him leave in free agency.
Byard will be a staple of the Titans defense for years to come.
Derrick Henry (7/10)
After a motivating conversation with former Titans great Eddie George (who just had his jersey retired), Henry broke out in a big way last season.
In the Thursday night game against Jacksonville, Henry rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns.
During that performance, the rusher broke or tied several franchise or NFL records. Those 238 rushing yards were the most ever from a Titans player, the 99-yard touchdown run tied a Thursday night football record and he became only the 9th player in NFL history to rush for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns.
Henry did it with only 17 carries that night, while the other eight rushers to do it had at least 22 carries.
He finished the 2018 season with 215 carries for 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns. It’s safe to say he will be the lead back in what looks to be a run heavy scheme coming from the Titans in 2019.
What really hampers Henry’s contract extension is Dion Lewis’ hefty contract.
Lewis averages $5 million per year, which is good for a running back, but what percent of the salary cap are the Titans willing to spend at that position?
Wesley Woodyard (2/10)
The older Woodyard gets, it seems the better he’s becomes. Woodyard has been a leader in the locker room and on the field for the Titans since he arrived in 2014.
He has contributed 465 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 19 sacks, and 33 tackles for a loss for the team.
The problem he faces is the breakout of Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans.
It’s a sad fact, but eventually someone younger is going to come along and take a veteran’s job.
Jack Conklin (4/10)
After an all-pro rookie campaign Conklin has struggled with health issues. In a playoff game against the New England Patriots in 2017 Conklin tore his ACL, and he hasn’t been able to return to full health since.
The Titans declined to pick up Conklin’s fifth-year option recently, which would have paid him upwards of $15 million in 2020.
Once Conklin does return to health, all signs point to a full blown competition against fellow lineman Dennis Kelly, who proved he could play at a high level in Conklin’s absence.
While they may have declined his option, it is entirely possible the Titans sign him to an extension at a different rate.
Ben Jones (4/10)
Jones signed with the Titans in 2016 after his rookie contract expired with division rival Houston Texans.
In his time in Nashville, the center helped make the Titans’ offensive line arguably the best in the league that year.
What makes the future iffy with Jones is the young unproven talent behind him in Corey Levin, David Quessenberry and Aaron Stinnie.
We won’t be able to see a clear future for Jones until we know what we have in these young players.
Logan Ryan (5/10)
Ryan is an elite slot cornerback who can be used on the outside occasionally.
What hurts Ryan on his chances of getting a new contract is the sheer amount of other players on expiring contracts.
What will be key for Ryan getting re-signed is how much emphasis the Titans put on his position.
Ryan is in the prime of his career at 27 years old, and has made a home in Nashville between the team, personal connections and his efforts for animals in the community and beyond off-the-field.
Other notable players on expiring contracts.
Austin Johnson (3/10)- Jurrell Casey, DaQuan Jones, and Jeffery Simmons will be the Titans main set of defensive linemen. Johnson may want to leave for a team where he can start after showing promise in what playing time he’s gotten with the Titans.
Tajae Sharpe (3/10)- Sharpe has shown he’s good enough to be a rotational receiver in the NFL, and he was a part of Robinson’s first ever draft class. But the Titans have revamped the position this offseason and the wide receiver position isn’t the focal point of their offense.
LeShaun Sims (2/10)- Sims has been good in the playing time we’ve got to see from him. However, he’s going to want to sign with a team he can compete for a starting job on.
Ryan Tannehill (5/10)- If the quarterback play is again inconsistent in 2019, the Titans could re-sign Tannehill as a cheaper option than Mariota to win some games while grooming a rookie quarterback.
