NFL.com draft guru Gil Brandt spoke Saturday of the growing interest in Ryan Tannehill. With Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III slated to go first and second overall in this month's draft, the Texas A&M quarterback has become a central figure of intrigue.
Brandt confirmed Tannehill will meet with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday into Monday before departing for a Tuesday visit with the Buffalo Bills.
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Tannehill traveled to Indianapolis this week, where roughly 40 college prospects gathered for post-combine medical re-checks. Brandt told me Tannehill's foot, which he broke during a workout in January, checked out fine.
Looking toward the draft, Brandt doesn't see Tannehill failling past Miami at No. 8, and accepts a popular theory about the Dolphins possibly trading up to grab him. Another team in the mix, the Philadelphia Eagles, worked out Tannehill in College Station, Texas, on the heels of his March 29 pro day. Brandt doesn't see a smokescreen here. Andy Reid and Co. are an interested party.
Meanwhile, Cleveland remains a genuine possibility at No. 4. I asked Brandt if the Browns believe their own words about surrounding starter Colt McCoy with weapons.
"They believe that if they put enough good people around Colt McCoy, that he can do it," Brandt said. "And I think the same, but there's several thoughts here. It's very seldom you get the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback. With that said, I think you have to go out and get a guy if you can."
Brandt told of his days as general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, when the team housed starter Don Meredith but drafted Craig Morton with the fifth overall pick in 1965. His second example: Despite the presence of Joe Montana, the 49ers didn't shy away from trading for Steve Young in 1987.
Brandt closed by saying, "I see too much upside in (Tannehill)."
