The Miami Dolphins enter the 2021 NFL offseason with (presumably) their quarterback situation settled. The noise and pundits will continue to call into question the merits of Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa; but the rookie quarterback has completed his first NFL season without major injury and half a season’s worth of tape for the Dolphins to evaluate and move forward with. The challenge Miami faces this season be how to best surround their young quarterback with a winning supporting cast. That’s no easy feat, but thankfully the Dolphins do have plenty of assets at their disposal to overhaul the skill groups surrounding Tagovailoa.
But don’t sleep on the backup quarterback position being one of importance for the Dolphins to knock out of the park this offseason, too. Because veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick? He’s set to become a free agent. And at 38 years of age, Fitzpatrick may be ready to hang up the cleats for good. Fitzpatrick has been a phenomenal mentor to Tagovailoa and his impact on the quarterback room shouldn’t be overlooked. If Miami is going to move forward without him, the Dolphins will want to make sure they address the position with another strong presence.
Would this be done with the intention of pressuring Tagovailoa’s status as the starter, which some feel Fitzpatrick did towards the end of the season? No, not necessarily. But having some experience in the quarterback room would certainly help continue the development of Miami’s young starter. Add on the past durability questions of Tagovailoa, who missed a start in 2020 with a thumb injury, and having someone competent to step into action for a game or two is even more essential. So who are some options for the Dolphins to consider?
QB Tyrod Taylor
If the Dolphins want another “been around the block” presence at quarterback, Taylor is a logical fit. With Justin Herbert’s wrangling of the starting job in Los Angeles, Taylor feels like a potential candidate to be on the move — and a stop in Miami would help Miami rest easy knowing there’s someone with experience behind Tagovailoa.
QB Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky is the no-brainer candidate if the Dolphins want an athletic reclamation project to play behind Tagovailoa. Trubisky knows all about the pressures of being a top-5 selection for a quarterback starved franchise, too — so he’s likely to have some perspective on the NFL that would be helpful for Tagovailoa to navigate. Trubisky would also offer some of the same dynamics to this offense regarding moving the quarterback around and changing the launch point; so there’s some appeal from an athleticism perspective as well.
QB Robert Griffin III
Speaking of quarterbacks who know all about the pressures that come with being a top draft choice, Robert Griffin III was once upon a time the phenom of all phenoms in the NFL. His successes in Washington were short-lived, however, and he’s since gone on to find more humble and low key life as a key backup for the Baltimore Ravens. But Griffin III flopped this season when he was called upon to start in place of Jackson due to COVID-19; a frustrating passing performance may have Baltimore ready for a new backup.
If that’s the case, Griffin III is a sensible experienced option who wouldn’t offer any genuine threat to Tagovailoa as the starter.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Duh. The best option is the one you already know. If Ryan Fitzpatrick wants to continue playing football and is comfortable with not being a starter in 2021, then let’s make a deal. Fitzpatrick is beloved in the locker room and has the trust of this coaching staff — should he need to come in at any given point, Miami would feel plenty comfortable about the prospects of winning the game.
