Marcus Mariota

Even with Mitchell Trubisky expected to remain the starter, the Chicago Bears want to add more options at quarterback this offseason.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the team is looking to add a veteran who likely has "pedigree and extensive starting experience."

That could reportedly include Marcus Mariota and Case Keenum as free agents or Andy Dalton in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Each has started at least 60 games in his career and began last season as a starter.

Keenum had eight starts with the Washington Redskins, producing a 91.3 quarterback rating with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions before being benched in favor of rookie Dwayne Haskins.

Dalton had been the Bengals' starter for nine seasons but struggled along with the rest of his team last season, throwing 16 touchdown passes in 13 games while going 2-11. Though he survived a brief benching for Ryan Finley, the Bengals will likely move forward this offseason with LSU's Joe Burrow, who they'll surely draft first overall.

It was a different situation for Mariota in 2019, as the Titans were competitive after his benching in favor of Ryan Tannehill. The former Dolphin took the team to the AFC Championship Game, and Mariota was just 2-4 as a starter with a career-low 171.9 passing yards per game.

He has been disappointing as the 2015 No. 2 overall pick, but he could potentially succeed in a Matt Nagy offense that puts the quarterback on the move while featuring a lot of short passes.

At the very least, this type of addition might help push Trubisky, who is coming off a brutal 2019 after coming in with high expectations. After producing a total QBR of 70.8 in 2018, the number dropped to 40.6 last year for an offense that finished 29th in the league in both points and yards.

The Bears are still sticking with the 2017 No. 2 pick for now, with general manager Ryan Pace affirming his commitment this week.

"We believe in Mitch," Pace said, per Larry Mayer of the team's official site. "Mitch knows he needs to be better. We need to be better around him. And that's our goal."

It seems improving around him includes getting a better alternative at quarterback besides Chase Daniel, who filled the backup role the last two years.

The Tennessee Titans and Ryan Tannehill would like to reunite for the 2020 season as the veteran quarterback approaches free agency, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini. 

Russini reported Thursday on NFL Live that both sides "want to go good business" and that it looks like the franchise tag will be Tennessee's route to re-sign Tannehill.

Tannehill threw for 2,742 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 regular-season appearances while replacing Marcus Mariota as the starter.

Keeping the 31-year-old is by far the Titans' most logical move at quarterback. 

Benching Mariota probably makes it impossible to rely on him as the starting QB again, and the alternatives in free agency aren't promising. Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady might only be a one-year stopgap, while Jameis Winston's inconsistency makes it risky to sign him to a long-term deal.

Free-agent Case Keenum had a career year in 2017 as the Minnesota Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game and then fell back to earth in 2018.

Based on his first six years, handing Tannehill a multiyear extension carries a level of risk on its own.

CBS Sports' Joel Corry estimated the franchise tag for a quarterback could total $27 million for 2020. Tannehill could get a hefty short-term payday, while the Titans would have another year with which they could evaluate his suitability as the long-term QB option.

By exercising that option, Tennessee does risk watching Tannehill's value rise even further, thus guaranteeing an extension could cost more money.

The team then couldn't use the franchise tag on Derrick Henry either. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted the transition tag would be available for Henry, but that still leaves the door open for another team to put a big offer on the table the team is unable to match.

If push comes to shove, Tannehill is arguably the better investment than Henry based on how quickly even the best running backs can begin to decline.

The Tennessee Titans haven't relied heavily on Ryan Tannehill this postseason, but that doesn't mean Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is taking the veteran quarterback lightly heading into Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Reid said Tannehill has done a "nice job" since taking over as Tennessee's starter.

"One of the top offenses in the National Football League since he's been in there," he added. "Everybody talks about the run game, but this guy can sling it. He's got some good guys to do it too. He's playing good football. Smart kid."

The Titans turned to Tannehill as their starting quarterback in Week 7 after they started 2-4 under Marcus Mariota. They had the NFL's highest red-zone touchdown percentage during the regular season (78.0), almost 12 full points ahead of the second-place Green Bay Packers.

Per ESPN's Field Yates, of Tennessee's last 44 scoring drives in the past 10 games, 43 have been touchdowns. The offense hasn't attempted a field goal since Week 15 against the Houston Texans.

In the postseason, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has relied heavily on running back Derrick Henry to carry the load. Tannehill has only attempted 29 passes combined against the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, and he's completed 15 of those attempts for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

The formula has worked to perfection, with the Titans in the AFC title game for the first time since 2002. However, Tannehill will likely have to take on a heavier burden against a Kansas City team that scored 51 points in the AFC Divisional Round against the Texans.

Warren Sharp joins Adam Lefkoe on The Lefkoe Show to break down both Titans/Chiefs and Packers/49ers in incredible detail, using proprietary statistics and some unbelievable nuggets about individual team matchups. There's only two games left before the Super Bowl, so you might as well learn the heck out of both of them!

The Tennessee Titans are prepared to offer Ryan Tannehill a long-term contract and could reportedly franchise-tag him if the sides are unable to come to an agreement before he hits free agency.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Saturday the Titans are committed to Tannehill as their quarterback of the future after he led them to a wild-card playoff berth. Tannehill threw for 2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns against six interceptions after taking over for Marcus Mariota, putting up an NFL-best 117.5 quarterback rating.

The Titans signed Tannehill to a one-year contract during the offseason to back up Mariota, who fell out of favor after taking 25 sacks and struggling to move the ball down the field during a 2-4 start. Tannehill had proved to be a solid passer during his time with the Miami Dolphins but failed in taking the leap above average and struggled with his health.

This season has been a culmination of everything Miami saw when it picked him in the top 10 of the 2012 NFL draft. Tannehill has been accurate in the pocket, blasted his career high with 9.6 yards per attempt and has the Titans positioned to upset the New England Patriots on Saturday.

"He's always had a very, very good arm throwing the ball down the field, pretty accurate at throwing throws, deep balls, intermediate routes," Patriots safety Devin McCourty said, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. "We've seen him for years, we've been a part of some of his best games in Miami, so we know what he's capable of and we've watched how he's leading that team."

While Tannehill deserves to return as the Titans' starter in 2020, the franchise tag may be the prudent route. Rewarding a historically mediocre quarterback coming off a career-best stretch is how you wind up with a Joe Flacco contract.

Franchising Tannehill would reward him for playing well above his pay grade in 2019 and keep the Titans flexible if he regresses. There were few who would have taken Tannehill over Mariota coming into this season, but Mariota will be the one looking for a quality backup job in free agency.

Not everyone is going to view Tom Brady as the best NFL quarterback to ever play. However, he is unquestionably the most decorated. With six Super Bowl titles, thee league MVPs, four Super Bowl MVPs and 14 Pro Bowl appearances, Brady has reached the NFL pinnacle and then some.

What's remarkable is that, in the free-agency era, Brady has achieved all of his success with the New England Patriots.

If Brady continues playing in 2020, however, there's a real chance that he'll be doing so elsewhere.

According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, New England is undecided about Brady's future beyond this postseason.

"I talked to someone directly involved in that situation and they said it truly is a wait-and-see type of situation," Reiss said on Get Up!. "There's been no contract talk since August."

Technically, Brady has two years remaining on his contract, but they will automatically void on March 17. This means that Saturday's game against the Tennessee Titans may be the last one Brady plays in Foxborough, Massachusetts—at least, as a member of the home team.

Would Brady enter free agency if the Patriots do not retain him? It's possible. Brady has long stated his desire to play until his mid-40s, and he may want to prove that his success wasn't purely a product of the Patriots system. While most quarterbacks would be happy to earn six rings as a starting quarterback, Brady isn't most quarterbacks. He tends to use anything and everything possible as motivation.

Just take a look at Brady's congratulatory Tweet to Drew Brees from the regular season:

Brady has given no indication that the end is near, though some believe that his play on the field has.

"He's not the same player," a former NFL defensive coordinator told NFL Media's Bucky Brooks. "He's not as accurate and he's missing more throws than ever."

Not being the same player doesn't mean that Brady is a bad quarterback, not yet anyway. He could still be a huge asset for a potential contender due to his experience, football intelligence and leadership alone. The Denver Broncos won a Super Bowl with the Ghost of Peyton Manning under center. There's no reason to think that a talent-stacked team couldn't do the same with Brady.

There's also no reason to believe that Brady's subpar play in 2019 was strictly due to his decline. Brady has been dealing with an elbow injury, and the Patriots have been woefully lacking in receiving options.

So if Brady does hit the open market in March, someone is almost certainly going to take a chance on him. This means that Brady will likely play in 2020—whether in New England or elsewhere. He's too much of a competitor to quite if he feels he has something left to leave on the field.

Let's take a look at some other quarterbacks scheduled to hit the free-agent market.

Ryan Tannehill

The Titans are one team that might have some interest in Brady in free agency. Head coach Mike Vrabel has New England ties, and Tennessee is a playoff team. The Titans are also ready to move on from 2015 first-round pick Marcus Mariota, who was benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill during the regular season.

There's one reason why the Titans may not actually pursue Brady, however. It's Tannehill, who has played exceptionally in Tennessee this season. He went 7-3 as a starter and finished with a passer rating of 117.5, the fourth-highest season rating in league history.

If Tannehill can push the Titans through a postseason run, there's a strong chance that he becomes the team's new franchise quarterback. Even if the Titans fall to New England, Tennessee appears ready to give him an extended audition for the franchise role.

According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, the Titans are already discussing a long-term deal for Tannehill.

At 31 years old, Tannehill could potentially fill the starting role for the next 10 years. It's a possibility that Tannehill isn't likely to pass, even if he has a chance of getting a more lucrative offer in free agency.

Expect the Titans and Tannehill to reach an agreement before the market opens on March 18.

Jameis Winston

Mariota was the second player drafted back in 2015. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made former Florida State signal-caller Jameis Winston the first.

While the Titans appear ready to close the book on the Mariota experiment, the Buccaneers have a decision to make. Winston has flashed a lot of talent during his time as a pro—he passed for 5,109 yards in 2019—but he has also made some maddening mistakes. Winston tossed 30 interceptions to go with 33 touchdown passes this past season.

Winston probably hasn't earned a long-term deal, especially after just one season with head coach Bruce Arians. If Arians has seen enough potential to give Winston a longer look, that look will likely last one more year. Then, and only then, might Arians commit to Winston long-term.

This meshes with a December report from NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, who stated that Winston is "slated to get tagged in some form."

If Arians has his choice, however, he may not be so keen on giving Winston the franchise or transition tag. He has openly criticized his quarterback more than once while openly praising others.

"I've always loved Teddy," Arians said of New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater back in October, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "He's a good, solid player and should be a starter in this league."

This is far greater praise than Arians recently gave Winston.

"You look at it and there's so much good and so much outright terrible," Arians said, per Stroud.

Bridgewater—coincidentally or not—is scheduled to become a free agent, along with Tannehill, Brady, Mariota, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and others.

With Tampa owning more than $91 million in projected cap space, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see the Buccaneers tag Winston and explore other long-term options in free agency and the draft.

*All contract and cap information via Spotrac

As is the case every year, we'll see big-name free agents on the move in March. This time, a former No. 2 overall pick, a perennial Pro Bowler and multiple pass-rushers could grab headlines on the 2020 market.

Typically, clubs extend or re-sign their top in-house impending free agents, especially a player coming off his best season or a productive campaign.

Guys like quarterback Marcus Mariota and defensive end Vic Beasley fall into a different category. They've flashed potential, but their numbers look pedestrian in recent seasons.

What about wideout A.J. Green, whose current team looks toward a roster rebuild? He's been hampered with injuries and turns 32 years old next year. Despite his career accolades, he may land on the open market as the Cincinnati Bengals revamp their roster.

Dante Fowler Jr. also finds himself in a unique situation with a team that's limited in cap-space flexibility. Following a standout year, the 25-year-old may feel it's in his best interest to sign the most lucrative deal available rather than give a home discount. 

Let's take a look at the four aforementioned players and their current situations. Where's the best landing spot for each veteran in 2020?

QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans 

Because of quarterback Ryan Tannehill's solid nine-game run as a starter, Mariota will likely have to pack up and start a new chapter elsewhere. Without him, the Tennessee Titans offense looked viable and wide receiver A.J. Brown became a consistent contributor in the passing attack.

Through five seasons, Mariota battled nagging injuries and missed eight contests before head coach Mike Vrabel benched him for Tannehill in Week 7. During the 2019 offseason, he added 12 to 13 pounds in preparation for the rigors of a 16-game slate. The 26-year-old maintained his mobility but lacked production, throwing for seven touchdowns and two interceptions while completing a season-low 59.1 percent of his passes. 

Mariota could flourish with a team that either plays indoors or in calm weather for its home games. He doesn't have great arm strength, which isn't appealing for clubs that play in inclement conditions late in the season.

The Los Angeles Chargers could look for a new starting quarterback because of Philip Rivers' decline this season. The 38-year-old has an expiring contract. 

The Chargers may want a backup capable of taking over the huddle in case Rivers continues to slip into a downward spiral. Mariota's experience would allow him to step in and potentially salvage the season similar to how Tannehill did for the Titans.

Assuming he retains his job, head coach Anthony Lynn has experience with a dual-threat quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, who's headed into a contract year with the Chargers in 2020. Mariota's upside as a 26-year-old and former No. 2 overall pick could appeal to the Chargers as Rivers inches closer to 40 years old.

Prediction: Mariota signs with the Chargers

WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

During the offseason, Green underwent ankle surgery and his recovery took longer than expected. He attempted a return but suffered a setback in November. The 31-year-old has played one game since October 2018.

At 1-14, the Bengals are in a rebuilding period with first-year head coach Zac Taylor and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. With Green's recent injuries, Cincinnati may hesitate to ink him to a lucrative multiyear contract.

As a team that's nowhere near playoff contention and probably going to start a rookie quarterback in the near future, the Bengals should allow Green to walk and move forward with Tyler Boyd as the No. 1 wideout. The latter just signed a four-year, $43 million deal in July. He caught a career-high 85 passes for 987 yards and five touchdowns.

At this stage in Green's career, he should look to sign with a contender that needs wide receiver help. The Green Bay Packers would be an ideal fit.

Behind wideout Davante Adams, the Packers don't have an established threat. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been too inconsistent. He hasn't recorded multiple catches in a game since Week 7. His offensive snap count has steadily declined over the last four weeks. 

Green Bay could supply quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a wide receiver tandem featuring Adams and Green, which would concern every defensive coordinator around the league.

Prediction: Green signs with the Packers

OLB Dante Fowler Jr., Los Angeles Rams

In a non-salary cap league, the Rams would be able to re-sign Fowler, but the front office will have a projected $24.2 million in cap space, per Spotrac.com. General manager Les Snead also needs financial resources to sign cornerback Jalen Ramsey to a long-term deal after giving up first-rounders for the next two years and a 2021 fourth-round pick to acquire him.

Coming off his best season as a pro, recording 56 tackles, 16 for loss, 11.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a 26-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, Fowler will likely command $17-20 million annually because of his position. Generally, productive edge-rushers are in high demand.

The Rams will need to develop in-house talent or look toward the draft to replace Fowler who probably lands a deal outside of Los Angeles' comfortable price range.

Fowler will probably draw interest from teams that need a lead pass-rusher, but he has the opportunity to choose a playoff contender willing to pay him a good salary.

In August, the Houston Texans traded Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus will hit the open market next year. 

Even if the Texans re-sign Mercilus, they need an edge defender on the opposite side to fill Clowney's void. With quarterback Deshaun Watson on a rookie deal, the Texans can afford to sign Fowler even though they have left tackle Laremy Tunsil as well.

As a playoff-caliber squad, Houston should go for all the glory in win-now mode. Fowler addresses a need on defense and fills a hole within the front seven. 

Prediction: Fowler signs with the Texans

DE/OLB Vic Beasley, Atlanta Falcons

Unlike Fowler, Beasley isn't coming off his best campaign. In fact, his critics have wondered where he's been since the 2016 season.

In 2016, Beasley logged a league-leading 15.5 sacks, but he hasn't come close to matching his best year ever since. According to ESPN's Jordan Schultz, the Atlanta Falcons put the defensive end on the trade block before this year's deadline. 

Nonetheless, Beasley has provided a boost to his market value with strong performances in the second half of the season. Since Week 10, he's logged 6.5 of his eight total sacks.

As the No. 8 overall pick from the 2015 draft with one dominant campaign, Beasley will likely garner solid interest during free agency. Teams will attempt to tap into his potential. The Falcons are projected to go into 2020 with the least amount of cap space, per Spotrac.com. Don't expect general manager Thomas Dimitroff to extend an offer to the 27-year-old edge-rusher.

The Detroit Lions could use Beasley's services. Head coach Matt Patricia uses a varied front with odd- and even-man alignments. Beasley has experience with his hand in the dirt and as a stand-up pass-rusher.

Detroit ranks 28th in sacks—any help in that area is a plus for its defense. Perhaps Patricia—a former defensive coordinator—is able to rediscover the 2016 version of Beasley. 

Prediction: Beasley signs with the Lions