Miami Dolphins Ryan Tannehill face uncertain options in 2019
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are getting closer to starting their off-season and after the Super Bowl they will start working on the roster. Including Ryan Tannehill.
Throughout the season, Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill was the topic of trade discussions heading into the off-season or potentially a flat release. The off-season is here and when the Super Bowl ends, teams will work towards the start of free agency in March. Meaning? The off-season will start for real very soon.
Rumors about Ryan Tannehill’s future have been running rampant since the season ended and Adam Gase was fired. The Dolphins however are not saying anything. Some in the media are quoting or referencing “sources” within the Dolphins organization but in reality, no one really knows quite yet what will happen.
Where Ryan Tannehill will play in 2019 is anyone’s guess. What we do know is that as of today, Tannehill is scheduled to count $26.6 million in cap space for the Dolphins this year. If released he would count $13.4 million in dead cap space and would save $13.1.
The Dolphins could opt to designate him a post-June 1st release which would carry $7.8 million in dead money this year but save $18.7 million. Of course the option to trade Tannehill is also a possibility as well.
The question is what team or teams might be interested in the services of a quarterback who hasn’t grown much since entering the NFL in 2012? Here are some of the potential landing spots for Tannehill in 2019 and the Miami Dolphins should not be ruled out. Tannehill could take a pay cut and stay with the Dolphins through next season and that scenario is a big possibility.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are in the market for a new quarterback because Blake Bortles is not very good. They have a solid offensive line and could use more weapons on offense but defensively they are stout and Tannehill could be a nice fit for a franchise that will try to bring up a rookie quarterback slowly.
Many believe that the Jaguars will draft a quarterback this year and that makes sense given the fact that 2018 was supposed to be their run at the championship but injuries piled up and they are now sitting with a high draft pick. Quarterback should be their first round go-to considering they may not pick this low again.
More from Phin Phanatic
- Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
- 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
- Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
- 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
- Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
With Tannehill, the Jaguars can compete within their division. He isn’t a long-term answer but he is a guy that can help, not carry, the Jaguars to success in the next year and maybe two while the younger drafted QB develops.
Washington Redskins
Many believe that the Redskins will be in play for Nick Foles and that may be the case but they traded for Alex Smith last year and he is carrying a big contract. Foles is likely to get paid more than what Tannehill’s contract currently calls for.
This is an ideal situation for a Washington team that needs a signal caller to replace Smith since there is no timeline for his return yet. Tannehill could help the Washington offense and challenge the Cowboys for the division. The Redskins were close but finding a QB is a must at this point.
The Redskins are not likely to draft a quarterback, at least not in round one so there is no pressure for them to start a rookie. Starting a veteran makes sense and when Smith returns the Redskins can weigh the pros and cons of who is better for the football team. There is a report that suggests Smith will miss all of the 2019 season as he tries to recover from a horrendous broken leg.
REALITY
The reality of this situation is that there is not much of a market for Tannehill. If he is released there will be teams that will contact him and he won’t have a problem finding a job but a trade is going to be hard given that only two teams really stand out as that needy and Washington traded for Alex Smith over the 2018 season so they may not be looking to do it again for a QB that now has an injury history.
With Derek Carr, Matt Stafford, and Nick Foles all potentially on the market when the new year begins depending on what direction the Lions and Raiders go in, Tannehill may not be all that hot of a commodity. It is because of that reason he may very well take a pay cut and stay in Miami and bridge the gap for the Dolphins to their next quarterback.