Entering final season the Dolphins appeared to have the most effective backup quarterback conditions within the NFL with veteran Teddy Bridgewater listed behind promising younger starter Tua Tagovailoa.
Neither stayed wholesome.
The consequence was rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, a seventh-round choose, beginning the wild-card playoff spherical recreation towards the Buffalo Bills.
The Dolphins should keep away from such a state of affairs from repeating in 2023, and that requires two steps. The first, which the Dolphins are taking, is working to maintain Tagovailoa wholesome, and proper now that includes instructing him easy methods to fall correctly with out banging the again of his head on the bottom and incurring one other concussion.
The second is getting a dependable backup quarterback.
Free company may be the most suitable choice.
The two-day contact interval for groups to speak to free brokers begins at midday on March 13.
Teams can signal free brokers starting at 4 p.m. on March 15, when the brand new league yr begins.
It’s unclear whether or not the Dolphins assume Thompson is a dependable No. 2, however they doubtless need somebody with extra expertise.
Options are plentiful and diversified.
Bridgewater, the hometown child from Miami Northwestern High, is a free agent. It’s not identified what his likelihood is to return. Bridgewater began two video games final season and performed in 5 video games. He completed 49 of 79 for 683 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and an 85.6 passer score.
The most disappointing facet about Bridgewater wasn’t associated to his efficiency, however slightly the damage points regarding a knee and finger (not counting the questionable concussion towards the New York Jets) that saved him out of key late-season video games, together with the wild-card loss at Buffalo.
Among different quarterbacks in the marketplace, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has familiarity with San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo as they had been along with the 49ers from 2017-21, however Garoppolo will doubtless search for a beginning job.
Perhaps somebody reminiscent of Baker Mayfield of the Los Angeles Rams matches the invoice because the Dolphins’ backup.
Or maybe Dallas’ Cooper Rush is an efficient candidate. But Rush may very well be tempted to comply with former Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jets quarterback Mike White, who performed highschool ball at University School, may be fascinated with a homecoming.
The Dolphins have acknowledged Tagovailoa is their starter for 2023, so a free agent reminiscent of Derek Carr, lately launched by Las Vegas, isn’t an choice at this level.
One factor we all know in regards to the Dolphins’ subsequent backup quarterback is he have to be able to guiding a staff with Super Bowl ambitions.
It bears repeating the Dolphins appear to be in “win-now” mode amongst main acquisitions reminiscent of large receiver Tyreek Hill ($120 million), edge rusher Bradley Chubb ($110 million), left sort out Terron Armstead ($75 million) and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was reportedly made the NFL’s highest-paid assistant coaches at $4.5 million per yr.
Tagovailoa is in his fourth season, the ultimate yr of his rookie deal. If he comes again for his fifth yr in 2024 he’ll doubtless price a minimum of $22 million, and that’s on the conservative facet, so the Dolphins wish to win whereas he’s nonetheless economical.
Beyond that, within the subsequent few years proficient younger gamers reminiscent of large receiver Jaylen Waddle, safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, and guard Robert Hunt, to call just a few, shall be eligible for main raises which means it’ll be powerful to maintain the present core collectively.
So the backup quarterback walks into a comparatively pressure-filled state of affairs.
The draft doesn’t appear to be a viable choice for the Dolphins to discover a backup quarterback contemplating they’ve Thompson.
As a reminder, the Dolphins misplaced their first-round choose because of tampering. Their first three picks within the draft are one choice within the second spherical and a pair of alternatives within the third spherical.
Considering the Dolphins have extra urgent wants reminiscent of working again, offensive sort out, cornerback and linebacker, it appears unlikely they’d choose a backup quarterback with one in every of their first three picks. Selecting a backup quarterback any decrease than the third spherical isn’t prone to be fruitful, and you possibly can argue they’d be higher served sticking with Thompson, who a minimum of has one yr of expertise.
One issue working within the Dolphins’ favor is quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, who has stated he has head coach aspirations, reportedly turned down a few offensive coordinator interviews with the Jets and Washington to stick with Miami. Bevell is highly-regarded in teaching circles.
In NFL jargon, the beginning quarterback is usually known as QB1.
Considering Tagovailoa’s concussion historical past, and the Dolphins’ state of affairs, which means they’re hoping to be Super Bowl-ready, they could take into account their backup quarterback QB1a and against QB2.
The Dolphins, within the spirit of planning for the worst however hoping for one of the best, want a backup quarterback who can carry the staff for weeks at a time, and presumably do it greater than as soon as in a season.
Free agent QBs
A fast take a look at a few of the free agent quarterbacks that might curiosity the Dolphins:
Teddy Bridgewater, Dolphins: Bridgewater, 30, couldn’t keep wholesome final season and that was his undoing. Otherwise there can be little query he’d be again. His numbers weren’t nice between finishing 62% of his passes and having 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, however bear in mind he solely lasted one play towards the Jets (not his fault) and had the Dolphins in place to presumably beat Minnesota till Waddle misplaced a fumble on the 14-yard line, however the damage points may very well be the deciding issue.
Mike White, NY Jets: White, 27, was 1-3 as a starter final season and ended the yr 103 of 175 for 1,192 yards, three touchdowns, 4 interceptions and 75.7 passer score. He confirmed nice toughness final season whereas taking part in with a late-season rib damage that brought on him to overlook two video games. White sparked the Jets offense by passing for greater than 315 yards in every of his first two begins.
Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams: Mayfield, 27, struggled as a starter in Carolina and requested his launch, which was granted, after being traded to the Panthers by Cleveland. He confirmed early spark with the Rams however turned inconsistent and ended the season 201 of 335 for two,163 yards, 10 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 79.0 passer score. Mayfield stated he’s adequate to be a beginning quarterback after the Rams’ season-ending loss to Seattle.
Cooper Rush, Dallas: Rush, 29, was 4-1 as a starter final season and ended 94 of 162 for 1,051 yards, 5 touchdowns, three interceptions and an 80.0 passer score. The Cowboys have a number of different free agent priorities, and proprietor Jerry Jones stated he’ll doubtless draft a quarterback so anticipate Rush to want a brand new dwelling. It’s been speculated Rush would possibly comply with Moore, the previous Dallas offensive coordinator, to the Chargers.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco: This is a longshot, and unlikely, however you by no means know what can occur and there’s a historical past between Garoppolo and McDaniel. Garoppolo, 31, sustained a season-ending damage towards the Dolphins and ended the yr 207 of 308 for two,437 yards, 16 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and a 103 passer score. One purpose it is a longshot is as a result of Garoppolo wouldn’t come to the Dolphins as a backup, and amongst his beginning suitors may very well be Tampa Bay, Las Vegas, the Jets, New Orleans, Carolina, and Washington.
Others to look at: Andy Dalton, New Orleans; Sam Darnold, Carolina; Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland; Taylor Heinicke, Washington; Drew Lock, Seattle
Other breakdowns on this collection
Dolphins free company glimpse: Cornerbacks
Dolphins free company glimpse: Offensive sort out
Dolphins free company glimpse: Running backs
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Source: www.bostonherald.com