The Dolphins are expected to explore trading Ryan Tannehill, who likely won’t be back.
But what could they realistically get in return?
I asked two longtime NFL executives and both said Miami should expect nothing more than a mid-round pick.
One veteran NFL general manager said potentially a fourth-rounder but noted there’s a looming complication involving his agent, Pat Dye.
As that GM explained, a team trading for Tannehill might want permission to speak with Dye to gauge Tannehill’s willingness to renegotiate his contract before making the trade and then reduce the $18.7 million and $19.5 million he’s owed each of the next two seasons. (That salary is not guaranteed.) That contract also carries onerous cap hits of $26.6 million and $25.1 million in 2019 and 2020.
The problem with that, the GM said, is that Tannehill and Dye might balk at a paycut and instead indirectly pressure the Dolphins to release him, where he could pick the team of his choice and go to the highest bidder if he wishes.
