All Dolphins

Can We Table the Tannehill Talk?

The Miami Dolphins have a big decision to make at quarterback, but it's not whether to try to bring back former starter Ryan Tannehill to be the backup

Alain Poupart

Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill / ALLEN EYESTONE/ THE PALM BEACH POST /
In this story:

It's been five years since Ryan Tannehill left the Miami Dolphins, and now the idea has been brought up by a couple of national media outlets that the team should bring him back.

And, with all due respect to Tannehill, all we can say to that is, why?

Is it because he's got a better NFL resume than the Dolphins' current backup, Mike White? Is it because maybe we remember his part in one of the greatest plays in franchise history (if you don't know, shame on you, but it's the "Miracle in Miami"?

But, truly, why?

Tannehill absolutely stands as the biggest name still available among NFL free agent quarterbacks after he finished his fifth season with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, but there are way more reasons to dismiss the idea than seriously consider it.

MONEY AND FIT THE BIGGEST ISSUES FOR A DOLPHINS-TANNEHILL REUNION

You can start with financial considerations. White is on the books for $5.2 million in 2024 and the team could save $3.5 million by releasing. Tannehill's salary last season, in the final year of his contract with the Titans, was $27 million.

Are we really expecting Tannehill to be OK with signing a contract for $3.5 million or less? Sure, the Dolphins could make it more and keep it at a $3.5 million cap number by adding a fake year, but that's more money spent.

More importantly, though, would Tannehill really represent an upgrade at quarterback?

While external factors always need to be considered, let's realize that Tannehill had an ugly 78.5 passer rating during his injury-riddled 2023 season and he eventually was replaced as the full-time starter by rookie Will Levis.

And then there's the bigger issue of fit. Put simply, Tannehill's skill set does not mesh with the system the Dolphins are running offensively. Period.

The peak of Tannehill's career came in his first two seasons with the Titans with an offense that featured the running of Derrick Henry and a lot of play-action passing. The Dolphins offense is based on timing and quick passing, and quick passing most definitely is not Tannehill's strong suit.

The bottom line is the Dolphins do have an important decision to make at quarterback this spring and summer, but it deals with Tua Tagovailoa's contract.

And if the Dolphins did decide that White's cap number was too high for their liking, Tannehill shouldn't be the one in consideration to replace him. It would make for a good story line, but that doesn't make a logical move.

Published
Alain Poupart

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of AllDolphins.com and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.