The Miami Dolphins are heading into offseason workouts with DeVante Parker and Jay Ajayi ready to step up as rookies for Ryan Tannehill and the quarterback has a new contract extension and a lot to prove in 2015 and this comes as a team could try and offer up a trade for Lamar Miller if Ajayi stands out, as the running back will be a free agent this offseason.
Tannehill's extension makes him one of the top paid quarterbacks in the league and he said after signing the deal that he still has a lot to prove. According to Pro Football Talk, the extension runs through the 2020 season and gives Tannehill $21.5 million at signing and over $40 million guaranteed through the deal. Tannehill is coming off of a career season and he has the chance to be even better in 2015 with the additions the team has made on offense.
The Dolphins are coming into OTA workouts next week and they have some competitions to look at with minicamp and training camp coming up. The team has OTA workouts at the end of May and for the first couple weeks June and then mandatory minicamp kicks off June 16. The team has Parker and Ajayi coming in after solid rookie minicamps, with the Miami Herald reporting that both players looked good in workouts, with Parker showing some explosive ability. Daniel Thomas remains a free agent and he reportedly had a workout with the Cowboys.
Lamar Miller could be a trade target for a team like the Dallas Cowboys, as they have been looking for more help at the position this offseason. The Dolphins are not shopping Miller, but according to Mike Fisher from Fox Sports who covers the Cowboys on 105.3 The Fan and at CowboysHQ.com, Miller could be a target for the team if the Cowboys pursue a deal for an RB. Fisher writes that Miller is heading into free agency and is low cost at $1.5 million. Fisher also added that Ajayi has the potential to step in and that could give the Dolphins a chance to get a high draft pick from Dallas.
According to NFL.com, Jarvis Landry is penciled in as the starting WR for Tannehill and Parker should slot in as the number two ahead of Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings. The prediction from NFL.com has Stills ahead of Jennings for now and Lamar Miller as the starter over Ajayi. The Dolphins likely will not look at a deal for Miller due to Ajayi having some knee concerns, but if they get a good offer who knows what could happen.
Tannehill set career highs last season in passing yards, completion percentage and touchdown passes for Miami in his three years in the league. Tannehill will have a ton of pressure to keep trending in the right direction and he will have to do it with some new faces on the roster. The Dolphins traded away leading receiver Mike Wallace after he had a blowup at the end of the season and now he is with the Vikings.
The Dolphins also released Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson, meaning Tannehill will have to get in step with some new receivers. The team has Jarvis Landry and Rishard Matthews coming back, but they also added Kenny Stills in a trade with the Saints.
Check here for more on the Dolphins and the possibility of Miller.