Ryan Tannehill was drafted No. 8 by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft, the same year Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were selected. To make things worse for Tannehill, Russell Wilson was picked that year as well, but much later the draft. Is Tannehill the outcast of this quarterback class to is he flying under the radar and poised to breakout in 2014?
Tannehill will never be considered the bust of this class and he has Brandon Weeden to thank for that, but that doesn't mean he has been a failed experiment through two seasons. Tannehill has been hindered by his lack of offensive weapons and expectations that have been forced on him due to the success of his fellow young quarterbacks.
Cian Fahey of Bleacher Report believes that it isn't that Tannehill is underachieving, but rather he is developing slower due to the lack of talent around him.
“Tannehill had heightened expectations to meet in a situation that was simply asking him to do too much. He didn't have a Reggie Wayne, an Alfred Morris or a Marshawn Lynch to rely on. He had to immediately step in as the team's starter and carry the offense by hiding pass-protection mistakes, throwing in bad down-and-distance situations and consistently finding receivers who couldn't create separation.
Did he handle all of this perfectly? No. Did he match what Luck had done in Indianapolis during his rookie season or what Wilson did in Seattle during his second season? No. Does that mean he is not a franchise quarterback? No.”
In two seasons, Tannehill has been middle of the pack but has not lost games for his Dolphins. With 36 touchdowns to 30 interceptions Tannehill has been average, but made strides in his second season. In a normal quarterback class, Tannehill would be going into a crucial third season in which he will make or break his career, but because of Luck, Griffin and Wilson he is expected to immediately turn it on.
Tannehill has made strides in the right direction, he has made plenty of his weapons better than they were prior to his time in Miami and he stays healthy while not losing games for the Dolphins. With two years under his belt, a top ten defense behind him and an improved running game, Tannehill could be poised to breakout from the middle of the pack.
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