The Dolphins’ season is in deep trouble, and it’s painfully clear that sticking to the status quo could doom their season.
Miami got blown out by the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in a 24-3 beatdown that highlighted the profound drop-off the Mike McDaniel offense faces without a competent QB under center. Regardless of how highly you rate Tua Tagovaila, it’s unquestionable that he has good command of the McDaniel system and knows how to find the team’s array of YAC athletes in stride to open up the field. This is something that backup Skylar Thompson couldn’t do, and neither could Tim Boyle when he had to suit up.
This was supposed to be a marquee year for the Dolphins, and so far it’s turned into a nightmare. As it stands Tua won’t be able to practice and play until Week 8 at the earliest, and even then it feels like a very hopeful timeline considering the seriousness of Tagovailoa’s three concussions. While the schedule is extremely favorable until that time, with games against the Titans, Patriots, Colts and Cardinals on the timeline — that’s also a curse. This is the easiest stretch of the Dolphins’ schedule, games that you’d expect the team to go 4-0 in, but it’s tough to favor Miami in any of them right now based on the level of play.
The front office cannot afford to stand pat. They can’t just sit idly by and try to wait out Tua’s return if they want to make the playoffs in 2024, especially with the Jets finding their footing and the Bills proving they’re the class of the division again. It’s time to make a bold move to try and save this season, while also putting a plan in place in case Tua isn’t able to return until later in the season.
Three free agents worth bringing in
Ryan Tannehill
This has been the favorite name thrown about, and rightfully so. Tannehill’s clear unwillingness to serve as a veteran mentor to a young quarterback left him unsigned in free agency, which is why he’s not on a roster right now. However, Miami is a different situation. With the Dolphins he’d simply be asked to go out and make some short-yardage throws, without risking too much in the process. It’s no exactly Tannehill’s wheelhouse as a QB, but he could make it work.
There’s a lot of bad blood from Tannehill’s first run with the team, but this is almost an entirely new organization outside of the executive levels — and he’s still a player who wants to prove that he can hang in the league.
It’s unclear what contract he would ask for, but there isn’t a single better option right now than just sucking it up, paying Tannehill, and hoping he can get you to a point where Tua can take over in time for the playoffs.
Cam Newton
Another name garnering a lot of attention, the former MVP has been outspoken that he feels he can still play and contribute at a high level. Yes, he’s been out of football for a couple of years. Also, that doesn’t really matter when your other options are as bad as the ones Miami can put on the field right now.
Short range accuracy has always been a bit of an achilles heel for Newton, who prefers to throw big and generate explosive plays. However, his ability as a runner opens up more wrinkles for a coach like McDaniel to take advantage of. This is definitely a situation to watch, because it could work.
Desmond Ridder
There’s a big drop off before we hit our next name here. However, we’ve seen in recent weeks what a change of scenery can do for a QB. Malik Willis is balling out in Green Bay, Sam Darnold is tearing it up in Minnesota, and Justin Fields is finding his footing with the Steelers, just to name a few.
It wasn’t that long ago that Ridder was one of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. There is a chance (albeit slim) that he could step into the Miami offense and make this click, potentially giving the team a young player who is a potential long-term backup for Tua, able to step in whenever needed.
Sadly, it’s looking like they need someone more often than they want to step in for Tua.
Three trade targets who are possibilities
Bryce Young
As soon as the Panthers benched Bryce Young there was talk around the Dolphins, and rightfully so. If anyone can scheme around size it’s Mike McDaniel, and a disastrous start to the season made it easy to forget that Young was finding his footing towards the end of his rookie season.
The hangup would be compensation. Right now there’s no motivation for the Panthers to move on from Young in exchange for a day three pick, as has been projected. Whether they intend to start him again in 2024 or not, the organization invested too much to just flush it away this quickly.
That means the Dolphins may need to over-spend if they wanted to get Young, which requires a lot of faith in his ability from Alabama, and essentially writing off everything you’ve seen from him as a pro. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Russell Wilson
Let’s throw this one out there, because it’s fascinating. The Steelers are facing a QB controversy with Russ ready to return from injury, but the team is rolling right now with Justin Fields.
A trade could solve this problem for both teams, giving the Dolphins a player in Wilson who could absolutely run the offense they need, and do it very well. Meanwhile the Steelers get to keep looking at Fields and determine whether he’s a long-term answer at the position, or still just a BandAid to get them through 2024.
At this stage in his career you’re not getting elite-level, Seahawks Russ — but an older, still effective player when put in a position to succeed. Miami could be just the landing spot he needs, and it would take a lot of pressure off both organizations.
Carson Wentz
How important is a backup QB in Kansas City, really? These teams have a history of trading with each other going back to the Tyreek Hill deal, and it shows that KC isn’t really worried about trading to a contender inside the conference.
Wentz has steadily rebuilt himself into a solid backup QB who can step in when needed and make some plays. He’s an accurate passer who thrives making short yardage throws, and that’s exactly what the Dolphins need right now.
It’s not a sexy move, or one that would garner much excitement — but Miami could do a whole lot worse.
