The Miami Dolphins are hoping to get a contract extension done with quarterback Ryan Tannehill this offseason after he had a career year in 2014 and this comes as the team is focusing on the NFL draft and could look at players like Melvin Gordon, TJ Yeldon, Breshad Perriman, Kevin White and Randy Gregory as potential targets.
The Dolphins have been an active team this offseason and they have pressure to make the playoffs after signing Ndamukong Suh and keeping Joe Philbin. According to Pro Football Talk, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Dolphins are hoping to get a deal done with Tannehill this offseason, as he is coming off of his best year in three seasons and looks to be the quarterback of the future in Miami. The team had high hopes for Tannehill and he is trending in that direction.
The Dolphins would like to sign Tannehill this offseason, as Pro Football Talk reports that it would bring down his 2016 cap number. The team just signed Suh to a historic deal, which means they may have to rework come contracts over the next few years to keep the cap in check. Tannehill is heading towards his fifth year option and the team may want to get a long term deal done over dealing with that after this season. The team has Tannehill on a $660,000 base salary this season and the fifth year option would be $16 million.
Tannehill had career best numbers in 2014 with 4045 yards and 27 touchdowns and he also completed 66 percent of his passes. Armando Salguero on Twitter reported last month that Dolphins football czar Mike Tannenbaum wants to get a deal done and that talks have started already. The team signed Mike Pouncey to an extension and now it will be Tannehill's turn. Pouncey was signed to a $45 million deal, while the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Tannehill could get a deal worth $105 million over seven seasons.
The Dolphins have the number 14 overall pick in the NFL draft this year and CBS Sports reports that the team could consider trading up. The report says the Raiders could be a potential partner, as they have the number four pick and Miami could look at drafting Amari Cooper or Kevin white. The team has Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills, but they lack depth at wide receiver after trading Mike Wallace and cutting Brian Hartline.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Dolphins are meeting with Melvin Gordon ahead of the draft and he could be a target for the team at running back. Gordon is getting a ton of attention and he has also met with the Cowboys and the Jaguars. TJ Yeldon could be an option in the second or third round if the team passes up a running back earlier on. Breshad Perriman and Jaelen Strong could be available if the team doesn't trade up for White/Cooper and DeVante Parker has also been mentioned as a target and he has visited with the Dolphins.