Rapoport: Dolphins to do T17 Deal Before 2015 Season

Since they already have him tied up for at least the next two seasons and at worst could franchise him if they had to in season three, I really don't understand the big rush to sign him to a huge contract.

IMO, they should at least wait and see how the 2015 season plays out. The reality is that even though he has shown improvement in some areas of his game. He still has failed to lead this team to a single winning season in three years as this teams starting QB.

Perhaps that will change in 2015 and Tannehill will finally take that next step up as an NFL QB. If that happens, they still have plenty of time to sign him to a new contract. Yet if the Dolphins once again fail to have a winning season and a new coaching staff and GM are hired after the season, it should be up to the next HC and GM to determine if they want to stick with Tannehill long term or go in another direction at the QB position.

 

Tannehill has improved every year. If he improves again, he'll be an elite QB. So sign him now or the price will dramatically go up.

There is not one single reason based in facts, to think he won't improve again this year. Anyone not expecting an improvement is only doing so based on emotions, which are not valid and have nothing to do with Tannehill specifically, and more to do with bitterness from years of failed QB play.

 

I believe the big reason for wanting to get it done, rather than picking u the option is the cap hit. $16m is a big hit for next year, especially given the number pouncey gets next year, and Suh.

And... if you have anything new next year, its a new HC, not a new GM. Tannenbaum is your new GM for all intents and purposes.

 

I agree. He plays mediocre late game defense, at best.

 

I love how, no matter how many times it's addressed, certain ridiculous arguments continue to rear their heads. Getting to the playoffs is a TEAM accomplishment.

 

Good luck with that, Galant. That is a question that has been asked. A lot. With no real answer.

 

This is a great argument for Tannehill not taking less than top 5 money.

 

"... Deal Before 2015 Season "

 

I have to say its a pleasant surprise to see our FO move to lock up some of our key players for the foreseeable future.

If you remember we dithered in signing Ogun in due time.Ogun went on to make the pro bowl and it was impossible to re-sign him and we were forced to trade him in unfavorable conditions.

Similarly Ireland dithered in some situations which resulted in losing some key players.

This FO seems to be decisive as to what it wants and I like it.

 

I feel pretty good that the Phins have this all planned out. They knew how much they could pay Suh, and for how long, same with Pouncey. My guess is they have had their ducks in a row and are just tying up loose ends. I cant see them working on Pouncey's deal unless they knew what RT17s would be. This is the advantage of having a FO so good in cap management as is Aponte and Tannenbaum.

 

Maybe, but I dont really get the sense that is what RT17 is all about. If I remember correctly, there was talk before they signed Suh, they had some loose parameters as to what 17s contract would be like.

 

Top 5 money this year is going to be top 10 money next year.

Also it allows them to play the the cap space to what they want instead of what the league rules dictate.

 

I just don't see him as a top 5 QB and I don't see him as ever being a top 5 QB. Will he be good enough to take the team to the playoffs, sure, but top 5. I'm not sure a guy who doesn't connect on a long ball and has questionable pocket awareness will ever be top 5.

I'm glad we have him and the look is over, but not sure I would be in such a rush to get a deal done before training camp and pay him top 5 money on top of it.

 

I tend to agree, Fin. Although if I wanted to play Devils advocate, Mike Wallace being gone could be seen as a reason for no, or limited improvement. I personally don't buy into Kenny Stills as a suitable replacement. But I also see Tannehill as a good enough QB where Wallace should not impede his progress. And there is still time in free agency and the draft to address the position.

Overall, I am absolutely in favor of the team getting Tannehill's deal done prior to this season.

 

Even if he never becomes an elite QB, as long as he's above average and you can build a winning team around him, I'd lock him up. We've had enough QB turnover since Marino, and it was downright ugly. Best to not have to worry about the QB position for the next 10 years.

 

Annnnnnnnd...again. Again, with the same tired argument, that has been disproved, time and time again, rearing it's ugly head. Yes, Tannehill struggled to hit Wallace on deep balls. Tannehill was not below average hitting other receivers in his career on deep balls. Tannehill played like at least a top 10 QB for the last 2/3 of the season last year.

 

Agree, this is a win/win for fans that hate everything the Dolphins front office does. Sign him now? "It's too early, we should have at least seen what he does in 2015-2016. Stupid FO." Sign him later? "Oh my gosh, we had a chance to sign him before the season! Now his price will be astronomical. Stupid FO."

 

With the cheapness of rookie deals, if he doesn't work out, you can still bring in someone for the future. If he does work out, you're left with a hell of a lot of cap space because you signed him early. This isn't our money and it's really only cap space that should matter. If he works out long term, you have him underpaid for 4 years and producing. If he doesn't he's overpaid for about two years during which you can still explore suitable replacements and cut bait fairly easily. I don't see a real argument against signing him now. This is all about efficiency.

 

Agreed, which is why Miami wants to do the deal now. If you're Tannehill's agent though, you're telling to him to wait. Will be interesting to see if they are able to sign him or not.

 

Tannehill is definitely in the drivers seat...but I'm not sure they wouldn't want to get a deal done. On the field Tannehill has continued to improve..and will likely continue that ascension. However it's that age ole saying a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Tannehill could hurt, his play could fall off, etc. I mean it's not like he's going to get some crap deal...he's going to get 100 mil deal. If that's me or I am his agent I'm taking that baby...might cost you a few million down the road but it's definitely worth it for him to lock that up now IMO.

 

I expect an improvement. But you also have to take into account he may not improve. That's not emotion. That's fact. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. As long as we don't hit cap hell and he isn't getting like 20m/year, sure. He should slot in the $15-16mm range and I'd be happy with that.

 

Whose saying there's no chance he won't improve? Of course there's a chance. Nothing is absolute, not even you taking the opposite stance from me (though its close).

The evidence all points to him improving, so there's no reason to expect him to not improve, which is why you feel good about the gamble of signing him now...but of course he can still plateau or regress....its just less likely.

 

I think that Tanny is the kind of player that will be willing to take on a heavily incentive laden contract. Boy knocks it out of the park, he gets paid. If he doesn't, meh.

 

sign him for 100 years, just do it

 

If you stopped being wrong on 99% of occasions we would agree 99% of the time.

I think it's still early but if they're going to do it, I'm fine with it. More so than when Cincy gave Dalton a contract.

 

It's really simple, there's two camps: those that think Tannehill is the real deal, and those who don't. If you think that Tannehill is the real deal, you absolutely pay him now, instead of later, because you believe it will be cheaper. If you don't think he's the real deal, you want them to wait, because you believe he will fail hard in the next two seasons.

 

I don't think he will fail hard the next two seasons, I just don't think he's made of gold like a lot of posters here.

I think he's just an average starter in the NFL. His two biggest worries (pocket awareness and the deep pass) are huge things for a QB to be considered elite. Most people who believe he's the next messiah ignore those two flaws and make excuses for them by blaming the OL or the WR's.

I think he could get a little better, but not make a huge jump to elite level where we have to stop looking for other QBs. I would probably draft a QB in the 6th round or later every year and see what happens. I think he plays well enough not to spend a 1-3 round pick on a QB.

 

Again, though, when looking at the deep ball, everyone's view is colored by Mike Wallace.

Drafting a QB in the 6th round, in search of the next Tom Brady, is pretty pointless.

 

For the record, I hardly think that pointing out that Tannehill almost never, ever had a pocket to maneuver in, due to terrible oline play, is "making excuses." It's simply the facts. Talking about receivers leading the league in drops for the first part of the season last year, isn't making excuses, it's simply the facts. Talking about a number one receiver who runs terrible routes isn't "making excuses," it's simply the facts. You take a young, raw QB with a high ceiling, and limited play time, and give him a terrible oline, and average (or below average) receivers, and then wonder why he isn't an All-Pro in his first three seasons. I just feel like many people had extremely unrealistic expectations for Tannehill. After 3 seasons, he is pretty firmly in the the top 10 in the league, and he's still improving.

I guess I just don't understand where some people are coming from.

 

This is the best decision. Hopefully they get a long term deal done now. Tannehill has had improvement every year in the league. He could realistically get 4,000 yards again and maybe get 30-34 TD passes. If he has a big year and the team makes the playoffs he will be looking for a pay day for sure. I would be surprised if they got a deal done now though. With so many teams needing a QB and Tannehill showing growth every year he will get more money if he waited to sign next offseason.

 

I agree that he is not good with his pocket awareness and I hope that it will improve w/ time. I do not agree that the deep ball is a requirement for "elite" qb play. Manning and Brady are both elite and I would not call the deep ball a real strength in either of their games.