2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

February 1, 2012 @ 16:11:48

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

Texas A&M senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill has enjoyed an up-and-down ride in his collegiate career. He heads to the 2012 NFL Draft as one of the most intriguing signal caller prospects.

Tannehill threw for 3,744 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2011, his first full season as the starting quarterback at the school. 

Patience could pay off

Strengths

• Very athletic - was recruited as a quarterback and was moved to wide receiver
• Mobility - effective as a rusher
• Above-average arm strength
• Team-first attitude - no complaints about having to move to wide receiver
• Ideal height (6-foot-4)
• Has plenty of experience working from under center and out of shotgun
• Quick release and throws well on the run
• Excellent accuracy and touch in short-range passing game
• Tremendous upside and potential at the next level
• Intelligent, hard worker, respected teammate
• Zips the ball with a tight rotation in the intermediate game
• Displayed competency of pre-snap defensive reads

Weaknesses

• A little on the slim side at 220 pounds
• Very inconsistent footwork - takes unnecessary steps, throws off his back foot too often, also lifts it needlessly, causing passes to sail
• Irregular throwing motion - drops arm too often and has too many passes batted at the line despite being as tall as he is
• Lacks accuracy on downfield throws
• Doesn't seem to have the best peripheral vision when it comes to seeing the pass rush
• Doesn't protect the football as well as he should - threw nine picks over his final six games in 2011, finishing with 15 interceptions on the year
• Can struggle with in-play coverage reads
• Prematurely reacts to pressure
• Recovering from a broken bone in his foot

Expected draft placement

Tannehill is probably a late first-round or early second-round selection in April's draft. He is a bit of a project quarterback and will need time to develop in the pros, so teams shouldn't view him as an NFL-ready prospect.

Teams that could show interest in him include the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Fantasy football players in the news (05/23)
Fantasy Football: Philadelphia Eagles D will fly again (05/22)
Fantasy football players in the news (05/22)