Dolphins Expected To Explore Trade Market For QB Ryan Tannehill

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are expected to explore the trade market for QB Ryan Tannehill this offseason.

However, two longtime NFL executives tell Jackson that it’s unlikely the Dolphins would be able to get any more than a mid-round pick for Tannehill in a trade.

Any team willing to consider a deal for Tannehill may request to speak to his agent beforehand to gauge his willingness to renegotiate his contract, which is set to pay him $18.7 million and $19.5 million over the next two years.

“The contract numbers are really high on him,” the league executive explained. “The question is would he renegotiate to facilitate a trade. But why would he renegotiate? A team will ask to renegogiate and I think Pat Dye would say no if it involves a pay cut. And then they would be forced to cut him.”

A separate personnel executive said the Dolphins can expect to get a fourth- or fifth-round pick in return for Tannehill.

Last month, Tannehill told reporters that he would like to remain in Miami, but admitted that “it’s out [his] control.”

“You can’t think about it; you can’t,” Tannehill said. “What’s the good in wondering and pondering and wasting time? It’s out of my control. The powers that be will make those decisions and we’ll go from there.”

It’s been clear for a while now that Miami could be back in the quarterback market next year, which will include some notable free agents such as Teddy Bridgewater, Nick Foles, Tyrod Taylor and likely Joe Flacco once he’s released by the Ravens.

Miami could also look to the draft for another quarterback prospect to build around if they aren’t enamored with the free agent options.

Tannehill, 30, is a former first-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2012. He’s currently in the third year of his six-year, $95.272 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $17.47 million and $18.725 million over the next two years of the agreement.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Tannehill would free up $13,188,332 of available cap space while creating $13,423,334 in dead money. However, if Miami were to designate Tannehill has a post-June 1 release, they could improve those figures to $18.75 million of cap room and $7,861,666 of dead money.

In 2018, Tannehill has appeared in 11 games for the Dolphins and thrown for 1,979 yards while completing 64.2 percent of his passes to go along with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

We’ll have more regarding Tannehill and the Dolphins as the news is available.