Top Reasons For The Dolphins To Extend Ryan Tannehill's Contract
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
For the first time since the days of Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins have had some consistency at the quarterback position. Since being drafted eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Ryan Tannehill has been the Dolphins starting quarterback in every single game they've played. Reports have started to surface that Miami is considering signing Tannehill to a contract extension, showing that they think of him as their franchise QB.
This shouldn't come as a big surprise to those who follow the Dolphins. While there are still some areas in need of improvement, Tannehill has given fans a reason to be excited about the team and its future. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun this week to take a look the pros and cons of Miami signing Tannehill to a long-term contract extension. First, let's check out the positives. You can see the reasons not to extend Tannehill by clicking here.
Steadily Improving
Tannehill has come a long way since playing his first NFL game during Week 1 of the 2012 season. His game has gotten better with each passing year and he has the statistics to back that up. One of the biggest things that Tannehill has improved on each year is his accuracy. There were some serious concerns in that department heading into last season with Miami switching to a fast-paced offense, but Tannehill showed that he could hit his receivers in stride (most of the time) as they ran routes across the middle of the field. His overall improvements have been pleasant to see, from his leadership to his ability to run with the ball. There is no reason to think that he won't continue to get better as he continues honing his craft, especially considering he's been working with Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino.
Growing Leadership
As I just mentioned, Tannehill's leadership qualities have become more and more apparent as his career has progressed. From getting his teammates together in the offseason for workouts to taking command in the huddle and earning the respect of his peers, Tannehill has begun the process of turning the Dolphins into 'his team'.
Durability
This is an area that can't be overlooked in today's NFL. If there is one thing that Tannehill has shown without a doubt it's his ability to take a licking and keep on ticking. Despite being one of the most sacked quarterbacks since entering the league in 2012, Tannehill has never missed a start and was only pulled from a game due to injury once.
Mobile QB
When the Dolphins drafted Tannehill they knew that they were getting a very athletic quarterback. During his first two years at Texas A&M Tannehill played wide receiver so he was no stranger to using his speed, making defenders miss and taking a hit. Over the course of his career Tannehill has utilized his running ability more and more, but he took that to another level last season while working in Bill Lazor's offense. Look for that trend to continue in the coming seasons.
Best Option Available
Let's be honest, the quarterback market is pretty dry right now. With Tannehill already on board, it's highly unlikely that Miami will start looking elsewhere for a replacement, especially considering the lack of options. The Dolphins could always draft a new QB in the later rounds and try to develop him, but the Russell Wilson's of the world are few and far between. Considering Tannehill's escalating development and improvements, Miami's best option is to continue with him as their starter and hope that he keeps getting better.
Follow David on Twitter (@DavidDwork)
