Miami Dolphins, Tannehill craft a unique deal to benefit both sides
The Dolphins were willing to give first-round pick
Ryan Tannehill the four-year, $12.668 million contract that he was slotted to get as the eighth overall pick in April’s draft.
But the Dolphins wanted “offset language” in the contract, Tannehill’s agent didn’t, and both tried to hold firm. Ultimately, after Tannehill missed the first two days of training camp, both sides got creative and crafted a unique contract that serves both parties’ interests, according to terms of the contract obtained by the Post.
The contract does contain offset language that will mostly affect Tannehill’s fourth-year salary, but in return the Dolphins converted most of Tannehill’s base salary into roster bonuses that are due on the sixth day of training camp each season, starting in 2013. Tannehill exposed himself a bit to not collecting the full value of his contract if he is cut before year 4, but also receives several nice bonus checks at the start of each year.
Here is what Tannehill’s contract should have looked like:
Signing bonus: $7.653 million
2012 base salary: $390,000
2013 base salary: $965,841
2014 base salary: $1.541 million
2015 base salary: $2.117 million
Instead, here’s what the Dolphins and Tannehill agreed to:
Signing bonus: $7.653 million
2012 salary: $390,000 base
2013 salary: $480,000 base + $485,841 bonus if he is on the roster the 6th day of training camp
2014 salary: $570,000 base + $971,682 bonus if he is on the roster the 6th day of training camp
2015 salary: $660,000 base + $1.457 million bonus if he is on the roster the 6th day of training camp
The total value each year is still the same, but Tannehill is the only first-round pick with this unique contract structure – minimum base salaries and roster bonuses. Rams second-round pick
Janoris Jenkins’ contract is also structured similarly.