Ryan Tannehill Reportedly Will Remain Starter If Dolphins Draft QB

The Miami Dolphins reportedly have assured quarterback Ryan Tannehill that he will be the starter for the 2018 season even if the team addresses the position at the draft, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com:

Pelissero added more details on how the Dolphins are expected to approach the first round as it pertains to the quarterbacks available: 

Pelissero added more details on the Dolphins' quarterback preparations before the draft, noting they "hosted Josh Allen on a visit, sent two reps to Josh Rosen's pro day and did a private workout and visit with Baker Mayfield." The only highly rated QB prospect they didn't spend extra time on was Sam Darnold because "they've figured there's no way he slides anywhere close to No. 11."

The quarterback position was a major issue for the Dolphins in 2017, though Tannehill missed the entire season with a knee injury. Still, the veteran quarterback has never quite emerged as the star he was drafted to be after he was taken No. 8 overall in the 2012 NFL draft.

Tannehill's best season came in 2012, when he threw for 4,045 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 66.4 percent of his passes. He has a career completion percentage of just 62.7 percent, however, and in his five seasons has averaged 3,691 passing yards, 21.2 touchdowns and 13.2 interceptions. 

Those are hardly elite numbers, leading to speculation that the Dolphins could seek out a franchise quarterback in this year's draft.

It seems unlikely that pursuit will be answered at No. 11, however. But the Dolphins are certainly a candidate to either move up or down in the draft depending on where the top quarterbacks fall and, regardless, have Tannehill entrenched at starter for at least one more year.