The Dolphins "didn’t have to negotiate a long-term deal" with QB Ryan Tannehill until next offseason, but by "giving him the extension now, they hope that they will save money in the long run," according to Andrew Abramson of the PALM BEACH POST. A source confirmed that Tannehill, who is "entering his fourth-year in the NFL, signed a contract extension" yesterday that is worth $96M through '20, with $45M guaranteed. His $16M average salary "puts him in the same class" as Bengals QB Andy Dalton and "behind 13 other NFL quarterbacks." Tannehill is the first QB "from the highly touted" '12 NFL Draft class to "receive a long-term extension." Former NFL Agent Joel Corry said, "It’s good for the Dolphins from the standpoint that they’re getting a deal done before [Colts QB] Andrew Luck, [Panthers QB] Cam Newton and [Seahawks QB] Russell Wilson and theoretically it should be less than what you’d have to pay once those guys get done" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 5/18). Meanwhile, in Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Perkins writes while the move makes Tannehill the Dolphins' "franchise quarterback," he "still isn't a 'franchise quarterback' by his actions" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/19).
LET'S MAKE A DEAL: CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora wrote the Dolphins "bought low" on Tannehill and have "protected the upside on the prospect while retaining substantial flexibility should he not develop." They "own him low the next three seasons with the option to buy high the following three seasons should they see fit." It is easy to "understand why both sides" did the deal. The "actual cash commitment to Tannehill, in today's dollars, is insignificant compared to what it would have been like the next two years." In return, the Dolphins "can control his rights for up to an additional four years, at the team's discretion." The team "protects precious cap space -- at a premium given the big spending ways" of new Dolphins VP/Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum. It also protects its interests moving forward in reasonable '15 dollars "without running the risk of having to pay out exorbitant" '17 dollars for Tannehill should he have played out his '16 option "in outstanding form and had a massive franchise tag fee to aid his negotiating cause" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/18).
