Miami Dolphins Sign QB Ryan Tannehill To Massive Contract Extension

The Miami Dolphins have officially signed Ryan Tannehill to a contract extension through the 2020 season, worth $96 million with $45 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Now, this is interesting on two fronts. First, Miami coach Joe Philbin publicly called out Tannehill last year for poor play, which resulted in the QB finishing the 2014 season strong. By the end, he threw for 4,045 yards with a completion percentage of 66.4, 27 touchdowns, only 12 interceptions and had a 92.8 passer rating.

Great numbers, but is he worth $100 million – especially with the team’s inability to get over the playoff slump – only one appearance in the last 13 seasons? This question is going to plague Miami, but they must have enough confidence in the eighth overall pick to give him this type of cash.

“We are thrilled that we were able to sign Ryan to an extension,” Dolphins vice president Mike Tannenbaum said in a press release. “He is an ascending talent, a team leader and checks all of the boxes you are looking for at the position.”

Furthermore, after over-spending on Ndamukong Suh and now Tannehill, GM Dennis Hickey has obviously not been shy about doling out the cash this offseason.

Secondly, this signing sets a precedent for the 2012 QB draft class. Out of all the guys taken that year, who could have really expected that Tannehill would be the first to get a contract extension? And what does this mean for arguably the best QB in league Andrew Luck, Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson and the injury prone Robert Griffin III?

Well, it certainly means that they will be paid more: if Tannehill got $96 million, then Luck’s figures just skyrocketed. Obviously, each case will be decided by cap space and how the money will impact the team, but it definitely raises the pay line for the quarterbacks in that class and in general. Heck, even Nick Foles could make more money because of this deal.

Lets just hope Tannehill lives up to the deal and is not the next Ryan Fitzpatrick.