NFL free agency 2020: Titans moves impact free agency

NFL free agency hasn’t begun, but the moves shaping it are well underway.

On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans made the biggest splash, signing quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a four-year, $118 million deal. The move locks Tannehill in for the foreseeable future while allowing general manager Jon Robinson to look at his other free agents, including running back Derrick Henry, right tackle Jack Conklin and cornerback Logan Ryan.

Robinson can now use his tag on one of them, and the smart money is on Henry. Without Henry hitting the open market, Melvin Gordon is likely to cash in most among backs. After spending five years with the Los Angeles Chargers, don’t expect him back in the same uniform come 2020.

Of course, the signing of Tannehill has ripple effects. For starters, the Dallas Cowboys can now look at Dak Prescott through different eyes, knowing anything near $90 million guaranteed won’t get it done, considered the much less-accomplished Tannehill was given $91 million guaranteed. Prescott’s representation has to be thinking about significantly higher figures now.

Tannehill’s deal also impacts Tom Brady. The Titans are no longer one of the potential suitors for Brady, which hurts the 42-year-old as the future first-ballot Hall of Famers head to free agency for the first time.

Brady still has other options beyond returning to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. He can make himself available to the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, two AFC West foes who would undoubtedly love having him as one moves into a new market, and the other a new stadium with precious few fans.

Then there are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians was clearly frustrated with Jameis Winston’s 30 interceptions last year despite him throwing for 5,000 yards. If Winston ends up hitting the market as expected, the Bucs could offer Brady a huge sum to play under a quarterback guru, while throwing to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in sunny Florida.

Still, Tennessee was a great option for Brady, and certainly fantastic for leverage if nothing else. Tannehill’s deal makes that fantasy now, and nothing more.

For the Titans, they now have certainty while the Patriots have to be smiling and the Cowboys shaking. One contract at the quarterback position never impacts only one. It impacts everyone hitting the market, on the market and a year away. This is no different.