NFL Draft 2012: Pieces in Place for Dolphins To Take Ryan Tannehill at No. 8

The time has come for the Miami Dolphins to address their revolving door at quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Matt Moore was solid last season, but hardly grades out as a long-term solution. Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Alex Smith have all since opted for greener pastures (both literally and figuratively). Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III would've been outstanding options, though they're sure to be off the board well before the Dolphins step up to the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26.

While Ryan Tannehill, their best option with the No. 8 pick, may not evoke visions of Dan Marino or Bob Griese, the Texas A&M stand out may well be perfectly suited to the situation in south Florida.

For one, Tannehill is a talented prospect in his own right. At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Tannehill is well-apportioned for the position and comes complete with a strong arm and well-above-average athleticism under center. As a former wide receiver, Tannehill possesses both the physical attributes to be a playmaker within and without the pocket and a cerebral connection with those who will be expected to catch his passes, in an empathic sort of way.

He's a bit raw, to be sure, but that's where the beauty of Miami's coaching staff comes in. Joe Philbin, the man whom Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland hired to be the next head coach, is something of a guru, having overseen the development of Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn during his days as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.

More importantly, Mike Sherman, a former Packers boss in his own right and the man who will be Philbin's right-hand man on offense, coached Tannehill at Texas A&M.

As such, the Dolphins' staff is uniquely positioned to turn Tannehill into a star signal-caller at the pro level.

So while taking Tannehill in the top 10 may be a reach for most, doing so should be right up Miami's alley, especially after cycling through 16 quarterbacks in 13 years since No. 13 hung up his cleats.

And what was Tannehill's jersey number during his days in College Station.

You guessed it—17.

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