Zach Wilson, Ryan Tannehill’s Top Landing Spots After Justin Fields Trade to Steelers

Quite a few quarterbacks have changed addresses this offseason.

Kirk Cousins is now an Atlanta Falcon. Desmond Ridder is an Arizona Cardinal. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenny Pickett is a Philadelphia Eagles. And the list goes on.

Two players likely to still change addresses, however, are Zach Wilson (via trade) after the New York Jets signed Tyrod Taylor to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup and Ryan Tannehill (free agency) after the Tennessee Titans signed Mason Rudolph to serve as Will Levis’ backup.

Below, we’ll break down a few teams who would make sense for either player.

The Chicago Bears are assuredly going to pick a quarterback with the top overall pick, with Caleb Williams the presumptive favorite. But the team may want a more experienced backup than 23-year-old Tyson Bagent to go alongside their young starter. Either Wilson or Tannehill would fit that bill.

More than likely, the Bears will let their rookie quarterback navigate the bumps and bruises of a rookie season as the starter. But having a veteran backup to help weather those treacherous waters is always helpful.

This may be a more logical destination for Tannehill than Wilson in that regard, given the former’s longer NFL career and the fact that Bagent showed some potential as a backup in the 2023 campaign.

The Denver Broncos may be one of the few teams left in the NFL who legitimately need a starting quarterback and aren’t currently in the best position to address that need in the draft. At the No. 12 overall pick, the team would likely need to move up the board to select one of the top available quarterbacks, as Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy seem likely to be off the board by then.

Either way, it’s hard to imagine the team going into the 2023 season with Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci as its primary options. This feels like a better scenario for Wilson, where he could serve as a bridge starter for a season while the team grooms one of the second-tier quarterbacks it drafts.

Hendon Hooker, a 2023 third-round pick, is currently Detroit’s backup option. If the team wants a more experienced player behind Jared Goff—or at least wants some competition for Hooker in that role—either Wilson or Tannehill would make sense.

Green Bay’s current backups behind ascending star Jordan Love are 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford and Alex McGough. The Packers could seek an upgrade at the backup quarterback position this offseason.

A year behind Patrick Mahomes could do wonders for Wilson and provide Kansas City with an upgrade over Chris Oladokun and Ian Book.

Brandon Allen is currently Brock Purdy’s backup. Either Wilson or Tannehill would provide competition for that role and likely a bit of an upgrade. And boy, would a year learning Kyle Shanahan’s offense potentially do wonders for Wilson’s confidence, even in a backup role.