Matt Flynn to the Seattle Seahawks Could Mean Ryan Tannehill to Miami Dolphins

NFL.com is breaking the news that Matt Flynn has opted to join the Seattle Seahawks. This is another blow in the Miami Dolphins' search for a new quarterback. It increases the odds of the team reaching for Ryan Tannehill in April's draft.

Flynn had been a target for the Dolphins. His strong connection with new head coach Joe Philbin, from their days together with the Green Bay Packers, seemed to make Flynn a natural fit for Miami.

The last few days has seen the Dolphins cast a wide net in their search for a new passer. NFL.com also reported today that the Dolphins hosted both San Francisco 49ers starter Alex Smith and former Jacksonville Jaguars signal caller David Garrard.

While Smith and Garrard may represent an upgrade over Moore, the question is, by how much? Are Smith and Garrard sufficiently better than Moore to make Dolphins fans confident of seeing an improved offense and winning record in 2012?

If these are the best options free agency has left for the Dolphins, they could decide to take a similar risk by drafting Tannehill. Yet this particular gamble would be offset by the rookie's greater potential and upside.

Then there is the connection between Tannehill and new Miami offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. The two worked extremely well together at Texas A&M.

Sherman knows how to use Tannehill's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. He can construct a system ideally suited to Tannehill's playmaking skills.

Tannehill's familiarity with Sherman's philosophy and schemes can help reduce his pro learning curve and help ensure early NFL success. In this sense, picking Tannehill as high as No. 8 begins to look like less of a reach.

It's also worth noting that the Dolphins are well set up to accommodate a rookie quarterback. They have a good running game, solid offensive line and a stout defense.

A big-play wideout remains a need, but with this kind of structure already in place, there will be less pressure on Tannehill to carry the team. He will be able to manage the offense and progress at a steady rate without harming the team's chances of winning. 

If Smith and Garrard are the last resorts for the Dolphins in free agency, they must surely begin to think seriously about selecting Tannehill in April.