Heading into his fourth NFLseason big things were expected from Tannehill, but despite his impressive set of physical tools, his play took a large step back. The Dolphins' coaching turmoil certainly didn't help matters, but he struggled getting the ball downfield or into the end zone and relied too much on short routes along with Jarvis Landry's ability to pick up yards after the catch. A weak offensive line and his own lack of pocket awareness also led to 45 sacks (third most) as former offensive coordinator Bill Lazor restricted Tannehill's opportunities to roll out or scramble, taking away one of his strengths and leading to a career-low in rushing yards for the QB. New head coach Adam Gase is expected to bring an up-tempo scheme that gives the signal-caller more freedom to change plays at the line, but Tannehill will also need to play better between the whistles to secure his future with the franchise. With two impressive young targets in Landry and 2015 first-round pick DeVante Parker, not to mention an improved offensive line that added Laremy Tunsil at 13th overall in the draft, Tannehill has no more excuses in 2016.

Tannehill finally realized some of the potential last season that spurred the Dolphins to draft him with the eighth overall pick in 2012. He improved his accuracy and decision-making, completing 66.4 percent of his passes with a 27:12 TD:INT ratio after a 59.4 completion percentage and 36:30 ratio his first two seasons. His rushing yards, fifth among quarterbacks, vaulted him into the top 10 of QB fantasy scoring. But Tannehill still has yet to reach 7.0 YPA, ranking 28th last season, because he struggles with the deep ball. He had just 10 completions and one touchdown on 41 attempts of 21-plus yards, and 29 quarterbacks had more completions of 40-plus yards than Tannehill's four. Part of his problem stems from a low release point, but he also doesn't get enough time in the pocket for deep routes to develop — he was third in sacks last year with 46, and his three-year total of 136 is 20 more than the next closest QB. Perhaps the biggest factor, a lack of playmakers, was addressed as the Dolphins overhauled the receiving corps. Sure-handed Jarvis Landry returns after catching 75 percent of his targets as a rookie last season, but gone are Brian Hartline, Charles Clay and the disgruntled Mike Wallace. In their place are speedster Kenny Stills (career 11.7 YPT), veteran Greg Jennings, 6-5 tight end Jordan Cameron and first-round pick DeVante Parker (6-3, 209, 4.45 40). That should be enough for Tannehill's upward trend to continue, and with better protection, he could take an even bigger step.

The 2013 season couldn't have been much more embarrassing for the Dolphins, but Tannehill managed to show slight improvement despite the massive distraction brought on by the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin debacle. He doubled his touchdown passes from 12 to 24 but didn't show much big-play ability, failing to hit the 250-yard, two-touchdown mark in 14 games. While he's unlikely to turn into a world beater in 2014, Tannehill should show at least slight improvement as he heads into his third year. He should have better chemistry with receiver Mike Wallace after a second offseason of working together, and the free agency addition of running back Knowshon Moreno should stabilize the running game and give Tannehill a reliable receiving option out of the backfield. After being sacked an unacceptable 58 times in 2013, Tannehill will likely benefit from a significantly improved offensive line since Miami added left tackle Branden Albert in free agency and right tackle Ja'Wuan James in the first round of the draft. However, with no standout red-zone targets among his pass catchers, Tannehill's fantasy value appears to have limited upside.

Tannehill isn't discussed much as an up-and-coming quarterback, but perhaps he should be. Most overlook Tannehill's 2012 rookie season because he tossed only 12 touchdowns, but Tannehill (6.8 YPA) was nearly as efficient in Miami as Andrew Luck (7.0) in Indianapolis, with arguably less talent around him. And a quarterback's YPA is actually the most predictive stat of future performance. More importantly, the Dolphins did everything in their power to surround Tannehill with more talent. They signed wide receivers Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson and tight end Dustin Keller in the offseason. They'll complement Brian Hartline to provide Tannehill with a supporting cast that far exceeds what he had last season. Wallace's speed alone should give Tannehill more opportunities to connect on big plays, while also opening up things underneath for Miami's other options. Moreover, while Tannehill's not going to run read-option or take off on the ground 100 times a year, he is still mobile enough to give you a few fantasy points per game as a runner. His 211 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in 2012 added 33 points, the equivalent of more than eight passing touchdowns in most leagues.

Taken in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL draft Tannehill is the Dolphins QB of the future. When that future occurs is up to debate but it will more than likely be at some point during the middle of the season. Tannehill not only will need to get a firm grip of new coach Joe Philbin's offense but will also have to deal with not having any elite receivers on the team. Still he could be an interesting play in keeper or dynasty leagues as things should only improve for him in the upcoming seasons.