Miami Dolphins receive great value with Ryan Tannehill deal

The Miami Dolphins announced on Monday that they have signed 26-year old quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a six year contract extension, keeping their offensive franchise player in town until 2020. According to a tweet from Adam Schefter, the deal will pay Tannehill $96 million over six seasons with $45 million guaranteed, which are numbers that he should be able to fulfill throughout his prime seasons.

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After a slow start through his first three games of 2014 that left some of the Miami Dolphins fan base questioning their young starter, Tannehill quickly transformed his season into a breakout campaign as the leader of the offense. Tannehill posted career highs in completion percentage (66.4%), passing yards (4,045) and touchdowns (27) while limiting his interceptions to a career-low of 12. On the ground, he added 56 rushes for 311 yards and one score.

My optimism in Tannehill’s ability to earn the entirety of this $96M contract centres around his consistent development as a starter with the Dolphins. He has shown noted improvement in each of his three seasons, seeing his quarterback ratings rise from 76.1 in 2012 to 81.7 in 2013 and 92.8 this past season. I’m also encouraged by his ability to protect the ball and believe that he’ll continue to improve on this, but what sets Tannehill apart for me is his quiet athleticism.

A 4.65-second 40-yard dash prior to the 2012 NFL Draft highlighted the speed Tannehill owns, but his ability to use this quickness intelligently will allow him to grow as a passer within this offensive scheme. Much like Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Tannehill does not use his athleticism to break off 80-yard scrambles, but instead to move outside of the pocket and into a higher-quality throwing situation. With his new offensive weapons, this could be extremely valuable.

Mike Wallace has left town via a trade to the Minnesota Vikings after two seasons in which he failed to top 1,000 yards, but his replacements should cumulatively grow this offense. Kenny Stills adds youth and electricity to the outside while first round selection DeVante Parker out of Louisville has the potential to provide number one production in his rookie season.

Their success will open up the middle of the field for Tannehill to work, and he’ll have two prime weapons in Jarvis Landry and Jordan Cameron. Landry, who caught 84 balls for the Dolphins in his 2014 rookie season, has the potential to be a top slot option in the NFL and will further allow for Tannehill to create offensively while moving behind the line of scrimmage. At running back, Lamar Miller and the talented rookie Jay Ajayi should provide a decent running game with the abilities to chip in as receivers.

Dec 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) in the first half of game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The supporting cast around Ryan Tannehill is growing, and following his strongest season to date, I expect him to do the very same thing. This deal is not cheap for the Miami Dolphins, nor will any deal be for a starting quarterback under 30, but the organization should rest easy that they have purchased his services at the proper point. All too often, teams find themselves in poor situations by paying a player at their highest career value, often in free agency, but Tannehill still has room to grow within this contract.

Miami looks to be squarely in the middle of the AFC East race with Ndamukong Suh leading the way on the defensive side. The New York Jets likely need further building while the Buffalo Bills lack certainty at quarterback, and it’s yet to be seen what impact (if any) the Deflategate scandal will have on the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins are now set to compete in 2015 and beyond with a quality offensive product, one that starts and ends with Tannehill. This contract both gives them the flexibility to build their roster long-term, and offers them the opportunity to receive a great return for their money spent as Tannehill grows into a potential top-10 quarterback.

Next: Dolphins prospect profile: WR DeVante Parker

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