Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Twenty years and Miami Dolphins still search for the next Dan Marino

By Thomas Santiago Jr

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 7: Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins poses with his bust during the 2005 NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on August 7, 2005 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH - AUGUST 7: Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins poses with his bust during the 2005 NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on August 7, 2005 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 30: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins drops back to pass during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 30, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Miami 42-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 30: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins drops back to pass during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 30, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Miami 42-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

2009

The year after Chad Pennington led Miami to a division title, they picked 25th overall in the draft. At that point, Matthew Stafford (1st overall), Mark Sanchez (5th overall), and Josh Freeman (17th overall) had been selected and no other QB was selected in the first round. The Dolphins selected Vontae Davis with the 25th selection and he proved to be a solid starting cornerback in the NFL throughout his career.

2010

In 2010 the Dolphins traded down from the 12th overall pick with the San Diego Chargers and, instead, took DT Jared Odrick at 28th overall. The only QBs selected in the first round were Sam Bradford (1st overall) and Tim Tebow (25th overall). Odrick lasted 7 seasons in the NFL (5 with Miami) and amassed 23 career sacks.

2011

Miami held the 15th overall pick back in 2011. Cam Newton (1st overall), Jake Locker (8th overall), Blaine Gabbert (10th overall), and Christian Ponder (12th overall) were all drafted in the first round. Only Newton is a viable starter in the league today. A bit of a cheat here, Andy Dalton was selected 35th overall in the 2nd round and still starts in the league today. Dalton, as it turns out, would not come close to the level of quarterback teams are looking for. Cam Newton has won MVP in the NFL and one of the great dual threat QBs of his generation. Miami picking at 15, would not have been able to get him.

2012

2012 was the year that the Dolphins selected their man. Out of all of the years, this was the year the Dolphins went for a franchise QB. Ryan Tannehill was taken 8th overall by the fish. Andrew Luck (1st overall) and Robert Griffin III (2nd overall) were not available to them and Brandon Weeden (22nd overall) was the other QB on the board. Between Tannehill and Weeden, Miami clearly made the correct decision. In his 6 years with Miami, Tannehill completed close to 63% of his passes with 123 TD and 75 INT. Now, after Marcus Mariota’s slow start in Tennessee, he’s found a new opportunity as a starting QB. Tannehill, in my opinion, is the kind of QB who could win a Super Bowl if he has the right team around him. The fact is, Miami never put “the right team” out on the field for him.

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