Age is more important than play. So his age coming off the injury likely won't get him much. Typically, a player like this will only get a 1 year deal. Woodson got a 1 year $4.3 mil deal after missing 9 games, but it wasn't only 2 seasons ago he led the NFL in interceptions and 2009 was dpoy. Tillman has been good but not that good.
However, one thing that was strange is that Tillman wouldn't allow the Bears to release statements on him having surgery. It's actually still uncomfirmed. That goes back to early December. This makes me think that he's been eyeing some place else for awhile. Secondly, Lovie gets that job. Lastly, he about the first free agent to say that he's testing the market.
I'm going to bet that he gets a 2-3 year deal for $2-$3 mil a year to play for Tampa. The reason for the exception is that he knows well enough that the Bears and most other teams won't give him more than a 1 year deal. And at his age after 11 years in Chicago, where he's incredibly entrenched in the community with his family... Peanut is not going to go play on a 1 year deal for another team. But... to play a few years for his old coach in a warm climate, take the family to a nice condo on the beach. That's a nice 2-3 year vacation before retirement. And he'd play opposite Revis or at least be an awesome nickel. For Lovie, it's a chance to get some good play out of Tillman and have him teach some players the Lovie concept, the strip fumble, the mentality.
IF that is not in the cards, I don't think he'll just take a crappy 1 year deal for someone else. Then maybe we can sign him to a 1 year $2 mil deal on the cheap. Even if we found another corner... Tillman would be a monster at nickel and we have to get rid of Frey, who was useless back there.