Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins may have changes ahead but likely not what you think

By Brian Miller

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 11: Owner Stephen Ross of the Miami Dolphins talks to the media about the NFL's investigation of locker room practices before play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers November 11, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 11: Owner Stephen Ross of the Miami Dolphins talks to the media about the NFL's investigation of locker room practices before play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers November 11, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 20: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins watches for the loose ball after a sack during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 20, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 20: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins watches for the loose ball after a sack during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on September 20, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Ryan Tannehill

Say what you want but they are all tied together, or at least should be. It was the decision of Tannenbaum or Grier or Gase to extend him and then to restructure his contract. He will count $26 million in cap space and will take up $13 million in dead space if released.

The Dolphins don’t have a lot of options at quarterback right now. The draft is not currently set to provide a good market for signal callers this  year and free agency leaves a lot to be desired. If the Dolphins go the free agency route, they will be overpaying someone like Nick Foles to basically be a bridge for a rookie in 2019 or 2020.

The problem is that Tannehill is also overpaid and will not make this team better over the course of next year but he would do enough to keep the team in contention but can the Dolphins really win with Tannehill at quarterback?

If the rumors of Ross wanting Jackson or any other quarterback are true then Ross is not as high on Tannehill as any of the other three are. Gase believes that Tannehill has yet to reach his ceiling but there has been no indication of consistent improvement from Tannehill since he arrived in 2012. A change of scenery should help him but staying in Miami is not going to win over the fans.

As stated the issue with moving on from Tannehill is that you are paying $13 million in dead money and a new contract to a new QB that in all likelihood has the same potential and current ceiling as Tannehill. So perhaps waiting would be the best option.

Will he leave?

That is all dependent on what Miami can find on the free agent market because the draft is no guarantee of even finding a quarterback to draft let alone them working out. I would put Tannehill staying in Miami for 2019 around 75/25.

Home/Dolphins News