Report: Dolphins And Ryan Tannehill Discussing Long-Term Extension
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – It appears that the Miami Dolphins have decided that Ryan Tannehill is in fact their quarterback of the future.
Or at least the immediate future.
According to the Sun Sentinel, the Dolphins are in discussions with Tannehill on a long-term contract extension.
While exact figures are unknown, the report says that the deal being discussed is in the range of seven years for around $105 million, depending on incentives.
Tannehill would be paid about $15 million per year but with only the first two years of the contract guaranteed.
After that, the Dolphins would have the option in the third year and Tannehill would have a player option in the final two.
Tannehill is entering the final year of his rookie contract in which he'll be paid $2.1 million.
Whether the Dolphins are looking to keep Tannehill under contract for the next few years or lock him up long-term is the question.
If the report is accurate, it shows what the Dolphins brass thinks of Tannehill as their apparent franchise quarterback.
The 26-year-old (he'll turn 27 before the start of the 2015 season) is entering his fourth year in the NFL.
While he still has some areas that need work, Tannehill has shown improvements in each of his first three years.
He posted a career-best 92.8 passer rating in 2014, good for 14th in the league, but has yet to lead Miami to the playoffs.
Per the report, the Dolphins have three options regarding Tannehill. They can simply let him play out the final year of his existing contract that pays him $2.1 million in 2015; they can pick up the fifth-year option on his current deal that would pay him around $15 million in 2016; or they can negotiate a long-term contract extension.
Along with the career-high passer rating, Tannehill also set career marks in passing yards (4,045) and passing touchdowns (27) while throwing his lowest interception total (12) in 2014.
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