Dolphins “Cautiously Optimistic” Ryan Tannehill Can Be Their Franchise QB

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that although Dolphins officials aren’t willing to declare Ryan Tannehill their quarterback of the future, they are “cautiously optimistic” that he can eventually be their guy.

“(Dolphins officials) are not ready at this point to declare Tannehill is the quarterback of the future,” Rapoport said. “They are not ready to say he is their franchise quarterback. The Dolphins sources I’ve talked to are cautiously optimistic that Tannehill will eventually get there, mainly because of the talent he has and the improvement that he has shown this year.”

Tannehill, 26, is in the third year of his four-year, $12.668 million rookie contract and stands to make a base salary of $660,000 for the 2015 season to go along with a $1.457 million roster bonus.

Miami will have the ability keep Tannehill under team control through the 2016 season if they pick up his fifth-year option next year. All indications are that Miami will exercise their option, barring a horrible finish to the season.

This year, Tannehill has completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 2,114 yards to go along with 15 touchdown and seven interceptions.