Browns Hold Tannehill & Fins Fate In Hands
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Dolphins fans hoping to land quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the 2012 NFL Draft may be left with nothing but hope as the former Texas A&M quarterback vaults up draft boards.
The Dolphins could be interested in acquiring Tannehill at the eighth spot in the draft, but the chances of him slipping that far are growing slimmer by the day.
According to the Palm Beach Post, ESPN's draft analyst Todd McShay now has Tannehill in his top ten and said he may not make it past the Cleveland Browns. McShay's credentials to properly scout players have been questioned in the past, but overall, experts agree that Tannehill may go to the Browns at number four.
Tannehill has the requisite arm strength and mobility to play quarterback well in a West Coast style of offense. Cleveland and Miami will both be using the West Coast offense in 2012 and it requires a mobile quarterback who can make throws on the run and requires a strong, accurate arm.
The Dolphins sent much of their staff to Tannehill's pro day where he performed extremely well according to multiple reports. Tannehill ran a roughly 4.62 second 40-yard-dash which increased the confidence in his mobility.
As a senior, Tannehill threw for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. His ascent up draft boards may have put him out of reach for the Dolphins.
The Fins reportedly like Tannehill, but it's not known if the Fins would be willing to cough up a package similar to what the Washington Redskins gave up to move up and draft Robert Griffin, III. If the asking price of the Browns is similar, then the Dolphins will not pay it.
Cleveland has plenty of needs heading into the draft, most notably at wide receiver and cornerback. The Browns could take Justin Blackmon and solidify the wide receiving corps for Colt McCoy, or take cornerback Morris Claiborne to lock up the secondary with fellow first round pick Joe Haden.
The Dolphins will have backup plans if Tannehill is gone before they come on the board, but what will likely determine where Tannehill lands is not a decision that will be made in Davie, but instead in Berea, Ohio.
