Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has visions of quarterback Skylar Thompson competing for an opportunity at major backup duties heading into his second NFL season.
Thompson, after precious — and even playoff — expertise gained as a rookie, stops wanting saying the No. 2 quarterback position is his expectation in Year 2. But he’s striving to be the very best model of himself, and possibly that elevates him from being the third-stringer as a seventh-round draft decide that will get thrust into significant snaps because of a number of Dolphins quarterback accidents.
“I got goals, and I’ve always been a dream chaser, a goal chaser and whatnot,” Thompson informed the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Dolphins Challenge Cancer charity occasion simply greater than every week in the past.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to keep being me. I’m going to keep being Skylar, trying to be the best person I can be. Be the best teammate, best leader.”
As a rookie out of Kansas State, Thompson acquired two regular-season begins and one other within the playoff loss on the Buffalo Bills. He additionally performed each offensive snap from the primary one within the Dolphins’ Oct. 9 loss on the New York Jets. Thompson, because of a thumb damage, then left early in his first begin in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings final October. He managed the offense with none expensive errors but in addition with out a landing in Miami’s 11-6 win over the New York Jets within the regular-season finale to clinch a wild-card playoff berth.
On the highway in Orchard Park for a postseason look, Thompson was 18 of 45 for 220 yards, a landing and two interceptions because the Dolphins hung tight with the closely favored Bills, shedding 34-31. In seven regular-season video games, which concerned him stepping in for both starter Tua Tagovailoa or Teddy Bridgewater, Thompson completed with a 57.1 completion share, 534 yards, one landing and three interceptions.
“When you assess Skylar’s play as a rookie,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned on the NFL scouting mix final week, “he did a lot of things to deserve to be in competition and to have an open mind to him being, to winning the backup quarterback role. I don’t foresee that being unchallenged by any stretch.”
As the Dolphins state publicly that they’re dedicated to Tagovailoa as their starter for the 2023 season, they’re prone to pursue a veteran backup quarterback. Based on what McDaniel mentioned, that signing will then be a part of a contest for the QB2 position with Thompson.
“I do whatever I can to help this team win,” Thompson mentioned. “That was the mindset I had last year. When I do that, that’s when I’m at my best. That’s when I play good ball and I help the team win. Just know my role on the team and do whatever I can to help the team win, and that’s what I’m going to do this year, too.”
And that ample expertise for a seventh-round rookie shall be mixed with a full offseason of continued work with McDaniel, quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and assistant quarterbacks coach Chandler Henley.
“A lot to be excited about, from my perspective from the season,” Thompson mentioned. “I was able to get my feet wet, get some really good experience, and a lot of learning experiences that, I think, are going to benefit me moving forward, make me stronger.”
McDaniel continued, when talking on the mix: “I used to be proud of what Skylar was capable of do below the pretense that he’s going to proceed to get higher.
“And I think Tua is in a different spot. I think the team is in a different spot. And I think there’s some competitive advantages that we can bring to the room through free agency and that’s what we’ll look to do, is at least have some — there will be competition regardless in the room, regardless of who we sign — but I think that’s something that we’re definitely interested in to make the quarterback room better.”
The veteran backup choices proceed to develop. After information of free-agent starter Derek Carr signing with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, the group is now prone to launch Jameis Winston.
In the previous week, Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota turned free brokers after their releases from the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. South Florida product and Jets quarterback Mike White is a free agent who could possibly be serious about a homecoming. Others embrace Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold — or bringing again Bridgewater.
Thompson turns 26 in June and is ready to make $870,000 in 2023. He is below contract via 2025.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com