Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman thinks Texas A&M senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill belongs in some pretty elite company.
Based on comments he made comparing Tannehill, who played for Sherman at Texas A&M, to some of the best quarterbacks Sherman coached in the NFL, it is no surprise the rumor mill has the Dolphins angling to draft Tannehill with their top-10 pick in the first round of April's draft.
"Like all good quarterbacks he had great poise. Very confident in any system, west coast or not," Sherman said of Tannehill. "Any quarterback has to be confident in his own skin and believe in himself. They always say a great quarterback makes those around him better. I thought (Brett) Favre did that. I think Aaron Rodgers does that. I think Tannehill does that as well."
Recruited as a quarterback, Tannehill shifted to wide receiver in order to get on the field as a freshman before taking over for inconsistent Jerrod Johnson.
Tannehill, NFLDraftScout.com's third-ranked quarterback behind Andrew Luck of Stanford and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III from Baylor, threw for 3,744 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2011.
He's considered raw but his athleticism, poise and arm strength are sure to attract suitors in the first round.
In the 2011 draft, similarly rated quarterbacks Jake Locker and Christian Ponder were off the board before the middle of the first round. Cam Newton, viewed as athletically gifted but inexperienced in a pro-style system coming out of Auburn, was the first overall pick in 2011 and set records for rushing touchdowns and passing yards in a season (4.051) and total touchdowns by a rookie (35)
