Breaking: The Dolphins have named a seasoned professional bowler as a potential Tua Tagovailoa replacement.
Tua Tagovailoa, the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, will be sidelined for some time due to another concussion. Head coach Mike McDaniel stated on Friday that the team will “bring in someone” to challenge Skylar Thompson, the backup, but the search is limited because of the team’s $7.1 million in available salary space.
Keeping that in mind, the Dolphins might use the following eight quarterbacks:
Ryan Tannehill, unrestricted
Tannehill started his career with the Dolphins after being chosen eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, so a comeback in his later years would seem appropriate. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old might not perform well behind an offensive line that might be without injured LT Terron Armstead and LG Robert Jones after two seasons cut short by ankle problems.
Sam Howell, Seahawks of Seattle
As a member of the infamous 2022 quarterback class, Howell set a league record with 21 interceptions in just his rookie season and has already been traded once. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old demonstrated his mobility by averaging 5.62 yards per carry across his career and had five games with 300 yards or more in 2023, including one of the best outings of the season (397 yards, four touchdowns in Week 8).
The Detroit Lions’ Hendon Hooker
Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams Hooker, a 2023 third-round pick, is a potentially interesting option despite being blocked on the depth chart by veteran Pro Bowler Jared Goff and having not yet participated in an NFL regular season. In college, Hooker showed incredible versatility, throwing for 8,974 yards with 80 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and rushing for 2,079 yards (4.0 YPA) with 25 scores during five seasons with Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
Playing under McDaniel, the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers at the time, the ten-year veteran had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2021, passing for 3,810 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. However, Garoppolo is a hazardous pick due to his extensive injury history, which includes a concussion and a lower-back sprain from the previous season.
C.J. Beathard, unrestricted
Beathard, who spent three seasons playing for the 49ers when McDaniel was running game coordinator, may be a cheap fit for the Dolphins if they value a quarterback who is acquainted with the team’s offensive philosophy. In his 32 career games (13 starts), the 30-year-old has only gone 3-10 as a starter, but he has been useful when called upon, throwing for 3,886 yards with 19 touchdowns (four on the ground) and 14 interceptions while completing 60.4% of his throws.
Kenny Pickett, Eagles of Philadelphia
The former first-round choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers may have a lot of untapped potential considering that he finished two seasons as a starter with a winning record of 14–10 and 4,474 yards with 13 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and four running scores. Aiming for the Dolphins’ weapons is very different from throwing to George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, which might arouse something in Pickett.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Carson Wentz
Just three seasons removed from recording 3,563 passing yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions with the Indianapolis Colts, the 2016 No. 2 pick is another intriguing possible possibility. Wentz is on his fourth team in as many years, for a reason, though, and that reason might not mesh well with the Dolphins.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Russell Wilson
There’s a chance that nine-time Pro Bowler Justin Fields may be a low-risk, high-reward replacement at a low cost ($1.2 million) if he has made an adequate impression. Despite his recent struggles, Wilson is still a skilled deep passer who can fit in nicely with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Over his 12 NFL seasons, Wilson has only had eight interceptions or fewer. Wilson would have to consent to the transfer because of a purported no-trade clause in his contract.
