Dolphins Rumors: Contract Extension Or Fifth-Year Option For Ryan Tannehill?

Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the team, and the Dolphins have three viable options for keeping him past the 2015 season - exercising his fifth-year option, offer him a long-term contract extension, or wait it out out to see what Tannehill can accomplish in 2015.

ESPN's James Walker believes that out of all three of those options, the Dolphins will likely pick up Tannehill's options to provide themselves another year of cushion before determining whether to invest in him for the long haul:

...the Dolphins have a fifth-year, team option for 2016 worth approximately $15 million with a May deadline. That is a lot of money for one season. But using the option, in addition to Tannehill’s affordable salary of $2.117 million, would keep the quarterback in the fold for two more seasons at about $17 million. The Dolphins could view it as paying their starting quarterback about $8.5 million per season over the next two years. That way, it doesn’t appear to be as risky an investment.

The $15 million price tag for 2016 is eye-popping to say the least. However, viewing it as a two-year investment worth just over $17 million makes it more palatable, and a potentially likely option as the team heads into the long offseason ahead.

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