Miami sent Ryan Tannehill and a 2019 sixth-round pick to…
Miami sent Ryan Tannehill and a 2019 sixth-round pick to Tennessee for a 2019 seventh-rounder and a 2020 fourth-round pick. The Dolphins were resetting their roster and moved on from an expensive veteran quarterback, but Tannehill immediately revived his career with the Titans, winning Comeback Player of the Year and helping Tennessee reach the 2019 AFC Championship Game. Miami’s draft return never approached that level of impact.
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2019 7th round pick (233rd overall, Chandler Cox)
- pick 2020 4th round pick (135th overall subsequently traded, Kevin Dotson )
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Ryan Tannehill
- pick 2019 6th round pick (188th overall, David Long )
Trade Analysis
The trade looked like a practical salary-and-roster move for Miami in March 2019 and became a major Tennessee victory within months. The Dolphins were beginning a broad reset under a new coaching staff and had already decided that Ryan Tannehill would not be their long-term quarterback. They sent Tannehill and pick No. 188 to Tennessee for No. 233 and a 2020 fourth-round choice.
Tennessee initially presented Tannehill as Marcus Mariota’s backup. That changed after a slow start. Tannehill took over the offense, started the final 10 regular-season games and produced the best football of his career. He led the NFL in passer rating and yards per attempt, earned Comeback Player of the Year and made the Pro Bowl. More importantly, the Titans went on a postseason run that included road wins over New England and Baltimore before falling in the AFC Championship Game. Tannehill then signed a long-term contract and remained the starter as Tennessee won division titles and posted the AFC’s best regular-season record in 2021.
Miami’s return was much smaller. Seventh-rounder Chandler Cox had a brief Dolphins career. The 2020 fourth-round pick became part of Miami’s broader stockpile and was later moved in the Minkah Fitzpatrick transaction chain. That capital had value, but it cannot be isolated as producing anything close to the quarterback play Tennessee received.
Context saves Miami from an F. The Dolphins were moving on, Tannehill’s contract and injury history reduced his market, and a clean reset had strategic value. Still, the football result is decisive. Tennessee acquired a starting quarterback for a modest price and immediately reached a level the franchise had not seen in years.
The Titans rise to A+, while Miami improves slightly from D to C. Tennessee remains the clear winner because the acquired player changed the competitive ceiling of the team for several seasons.