Report: Dolphins will pick up option on Ryan Tannehill

Dolphins pick up option on Ryan Tannehill that will pay him $16.1 million in 2016

According to a report from Pro Football Talk on Wednesday, the Miami Dolphins will pick up quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s fifth-year option, which will pay him $16.1 million in 2016. This will make Tannehill the third top 10 quarterback from the 2012 draft to have his contract extended, along with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.

Certainly this move makes a lot of sense. Tannehill had a good year least year, throwing for over 4000 yards, 27 touchdowns and completing 66% of his passes while leading the team to an 8-8 record. Moreover, Tannehill is projected to improve, if the rest of the Dolphins roster does around him as well.

However, difficulties lie in the future, when the Dolphins may want to offer him a long-term contract. The Ndamukong Suh signing over the off-season will complicate all future contracts, as Suh is slated to make $23 million in 2016. While Suh is a great player and an instant upgrade for the 21st-ranked Dolphins defense, one has to wonder how much better the team can get, considering their current salary cap situation. Furthermore, the recent Dion Jordan suspension will further hurt the Dolphins’ cap problems, and if he is released will result in $3 million in dead cap.

The future of the franchise lies in Tannehill’s arm. The team has done some work in improving the team this off-season, especially with the splash signing of Suh, but it doesn’t seem like they’re really going to be able to compete with defending Super Bowl champion Patriots to win the division. In the face of the Dolphins’ current roster problems, drafting well this weekend has become an even greater imperative.