Looks like Dalton just got a 6-year contract with a bit more than Kaep's ~$13 million guaranteed. Probably Omar's influence (like some of his broad analysis, but not much else from his work) had me looking at these two as it relates to Tannehill after this season.

If we assume that Tannehill gets a bit better - takes the next step but doesn't blow the doors off the league - my hope is that these contracts are about what the market is for an extension for him.

Regarding his improvement, I'm optimistic. He's slowly, steadily (seemingly) improved in his two years, and going into the last two games of last year, his rating was 86.6. So, a modest improvement could be just ending the season around that mark. And, if he can avoid a couple of really down games and connect on a higher percentage of deep throws, +/-90 isn't out of the question. However, the last two games of 2013 justifiably cause doubts even for an optimist.

Regarding the contract, if I understand correctly, I love how the NFL has essentially figured out a way to handle the "he shows a good deal of promise, but he's not elite" QB. Basically, the team has positioned itself well to see if the QB can develop into elite while rewarding the player adequately along the way if and as he does. I'm sure that if Tannehill - or Dalton or Kaep - ever does reach and maintain elite status, the contract will be renegotiated.

tsstamper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks like Dalton just got a 6-year contract with
> a bit more than Kaep's ~$13 million guaranteed.
> Probably Omar's influence (like some of his broad
> analysis, but not much else from his work) had me
> looking at these two as it relates to Tannehill
> after this season.
>
> If we assume that Tannehill gets a bit better -
> takes the next step but doesn't blow the doors off
> the league - my hope is that these contracts are
> about what the market is for an extension for
> him.
>
> Regarding his improvement, I'm optimistic. He's
> slowly, steadily (seemingly) improved in his two
> years, and going into the last two games of last
> year, his rating was 86.6. So, a modest
> improvement could be just ending the season around
> that mark. And, if he can avoid a couple of
> really down games and connect on a higher
> percentage of deep throws, +/-90 isn't out of the
> question. However, the last two games of 2013
> justifiably cause doubts even for an optimist.
>
> Regarding the contract, if I understand correctly,
> I love how the NFL has essentially figured out a
> way to handle the "he shows a good deal of
> promise, but he's not elite" QB. Basically, the
> team has positioned itself well to see if the QB
> can develop into elite while rewarding the player
> adequately along the way if and as he does. I'm
> sure that if Tannehill - or Dalton or Kaep - ever
> does reach and maintain elite status, the contract
> will be renegotiated.

******************************************************

IMO, there will be two options next year for RT:

(1) He plays well and Miami gets to the playoffs -- he gets his money.

(2) He doesn't improve and the Fins remain status quo, Philbin (and probably Hickey) get fired and RT finds himself on another team as the new guys will want their own guy.