3-Wide: Did the Dolphins make the right move extending Ryan Tannehill?

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

Did the Dolphins make the right decision extending Ryan Tannehill's contract?

Arun Srinivasan: Miami certainly made the correct decision in signing Ryan Tannehill to a 6-year, $96-million extension. Tannehill flashed signs of stardom last season, and his accuracy and touchdown-to-interception ratio have improved dramatically through the years. The 26-year-old excels out of the pocket and is a capable, consistent contributor to the Dolphins' running game. Armed with a couple of legitimate weapons, Tannehill should continue to improve and has a chance at leading the Dolphins into the playoffs for years to come.

Michael Amato: The extension was a panic move. Giving $45 million guaranteed to a guy that has only had one decent season is foolhardy and risky. The Dolphins already exercised his fifth-year option and could have seen how he backed up last season's solid performance before making that type of commitment. Sure, they run the risk of Tannehill exploding for a massive campaign and ultimately having to pay him more money, but that seems unlikely based on his mediocre history.

Dan Wilkins: Absolutely. With the way quarterback contracts have been handed out of late, locking up a player of Tannehill's ability at this age and at this price will look like a relative bargain before long, if not already. The Dolphins are now legitimate contenders in the AFC after a productive offseason, and Tannehill leading the team on any sort of deep playoff run would have seen his contract demands go through the roof. This was the perfect time to get a deal done.

Who will lead the Cowboys' backfield in carries this season?

Amato: If the Cowboys sign any one of the group of running backs they worked out Thursday, they could easily lead the team in carries. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar are unproven, while Darren McFadden is an injury waiting to happen. My guess is no one will step up and claim the top job and Dallas will simply ride the hot hand, meaning they'll all end up with a similar number of carries. The Cowboys better hope that offensive line keeps playing at a high level.

Wilkins: Coming off a year in which he was finally able to stay healthy throughout, McFadden should be the early favorite to lead the Cowboys in carries. While his NFL production is still yet to match his early-first-round draft status, he's also never had a supporting cast anywhere near as talented as the one he'll have in Dallas. With the way this offensive front should be able to control the line of scrimmage, McFadden's big-play ability makes him the most intriguing option to replace DeMarco Murray in the lead role.

Srinivasan: Randle ought to lead the Cowboys in carries, unless the team pulls off a seismic trade for Adrian Peterson. Randle rushed for 6.7 yards per carry last season, and proved capable of evolving into a strong receiving option out of the backfield. The 23-year-old's off-field maturity is a persistent question for the Cowboys, but his talent shouldn't be. Behind the league's most talented offensive line, Randle is presented with an opportunity to develop into a star entering his third professional campaign.

Which third-year quarterback has a better chance to deliver in 2015, Geno Smith or EJ Manuel?

Wilkins: Smith stands the better chance at success, and it's not even that close. Though neither quarterback has lived up to expectations, the Jets' signal-caller has shown far more than Manuel in terms of passing ability. Now having a strong group of wide receivers to work with, and playing in a new offensive system that should better suit his talents, Smith could be in line for a breakout year. Manuel, on the other hand, appears to be a long shot to even win the Bills' starting job.

Amato: Neither option fills me with confidence, but I'll say Manuel. If Buffalo's offensive line can stay healthy, they could have an excellent running game with LeSean McCoy, and that's the only way one of these guys is going to succeed. If you ask either of them to pass the ball 30-plus times every week it's going to end in disaster. Manuel has the best chance to lean on the run and will theoretically have to do less, and less is more with these two.

Srinivasan: It's difficult to judge Manuel's sophomore campaign because he was pulled after four games in 2014, and his starts ranged from good (Week 1 vs. Bears) to catastrophic (Week 4 vs. Texans). Now armed with a number of bona fide weapons in McCoy, Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin and Charles Clay, Manuel will likely end up being better than the sum of his 2014 performances. His career 16/12 TD/INT ratio is better than Smith's disastrous 25/34 mark, and he has a chance to steer the Bills into the playoffs for the first time since 1999.