The Cleveland Browns signed Joe Flacco on Monday as the best of a limited pool of quarterback candidates, though scenarios in which the team lands a more viable player remain viable.
Former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan appeared on FanDuel’s Up & Adams Show on Monday, November 20th, and suggested that quarterback Ryan Tannehill ask for his release and pursue a new opportunity in Cleveland.
“The Browns would be the best fit for him,” said Lewan. “They have the tools, they have a good run game, and they run a similar offense.” So I believe that would be a good fit for him.”
Ryan Tannehill Might Be Able to Help Titans Exit
Tannehill suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this season, costing him the starting spot in Nashville. Tannehill has been a reserve since rookie Will Levis scored four touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons on October 29.
The Titans are 3-7 and occupy the bottom spot in the AFC South. Tannehill is 35 years old and is presumably interested in not only playing at some point during the season’s final stretch run, but also in meaningful games.
Tennessee can no longer trade the quarterback because the NFL’s October 31 deadline for such transactions has passed. Tannehill is in the final year of his four-year, $118 million contract and is set to become a free agent in March. At this point, the Titans have nothing to gain by keeping Tannehill and can no longer acquire an asset for him in trade, which means the team is more likely to agree to the QB’s release request.
The Browns’ quarterback situation remains a major concern.
Cleveland, arguably, makes the most sense as a destination for Tannehill in the league. Deshaun Watson had successful shoulder surgery on Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season, though the organization anticipates he will be back in shape in 2024.
On Sunday, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over the Browns offense and led the team to a 13-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thompson-Robinson completed 4-of-4 passes on an eight-play, 48-yard drive that set up kicker Dustin Hopkins’ game-winning field goal.
Aside from that drive, Thompson-Robinson appeared as inexperienced as one might expect from a QB making only his second NFL start. He went 24-of-43 for 165 yards and one interception. The rookie’s only other start came in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he threw three interceptions.
Following that performance, PJ Walker took over for Thompson-Robinson, but he struggled to produce despite Cleveland winning two of the three games in which he played the majority of snaps. Following the news of Watson’s season-ending injury last week, the Browns demoted Walker and returned to Thompson-Robinson.
Flacco is a former Super Bowl MVP, but he’s also 38 years old and hasn’t led the Ravens to a winning regular-season record since 2017, when they finished 9-7. Flacco has spent the last three seasons as a backup quarterback for the New York Jets. During that time, he started nine games and went 1-8.
If Thompson-Robinson continues to struggle, regresses, or is injured, Flacco will almost certainly see action. If he, too, falls short for whatever reason, the Browns may begin to consider other options, such as Tannehill, assuming he can get out of his contract in Tennessee.
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