Depending on whom you ask, the Titans could be the front-runner in the Julio Jones sweepstakes, but if they want to trade for the Falcons superstar, they’ll have to free up some dollars first. A restructuring of Ryan Tannehill‘s deal would be a major help, but the quarterback says the two sides have yet to broach that topic.
“That’s up to [Titans GM Jon Robinson],” Tannehill said (via Ben Arthur of the Tennessean). “He’s going to have to figure that out if that’s something we want to do as an organization. I don’t know. It’s above my pay grade. If he comes to me, then we’ll have that conversation then.”
The Titans have Tannehill signed through 2023 thanks to the four-year, $118M extension he signed in 2020. As a result, he’ll make $24.5M in base salary this year with a $29.5M cap hit. The Titans could kick the can down the road by converting a chunk of those dollars into a signing bonus. Then, they’d have extra room to add veterans this summer (i.e. Jones).
Jones’ contract runs for another three years, including $15.3M for the coming year. He may also want more in the way of guarantees for 2022 and beyond. If the Titans want to make it happen, Tannehill would surely accommodate them with a restructure. From there, it’s just a matter of negotiating with the Falcons. New GM Terry Fontenot wants a first-round pick, but some believe he’d settle for a second rounder.
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