Miami Dolphins backup QB situation: Are they better off now behind Tua than last year?
As with all NFL teams, quarterback is the key position determining a team's success. The Miami Dolphins' fate most assuredly rests with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his health.
Last year's quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa (11 starts)
Skylar Thompson (1 start)
Tyler Huntley (5 starts)
THE FIX? Dolphins sign Zach Wilson: What to know about former Jets, Broncos QB
How they performed
They didn't. At least not in the six games Tagovailoa wasn't able to start. The Dolphins were 2-4 in those games, and we'll never know if a healthy Tua could have made the difference between going 8-9 and going 10-7 and/or making the playoffs.
According to coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa has done a lot of reflecting on how important his availability is to this team.
Keep in mind Tagovailoa had the highest completion percentage in the league last year (72.9) and posted his third consecutive season with a triple-digit passer rating.
The Dolphins' passing attack without him? You don't need to ask, do you?
This year's quarterbacks
Tagovailoa
Zach Wilson
Quinn Ewers (seventh-round pick)
Brett Gabbert
Everyone agreed the Dolphins had to make a serious push for an upgrade at QB2, especially given Tagovailoa's injury history. Their answer was to bring in Wilson, former No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets. They said they targeted Wilson even though other options may have been Jimmy Garoppolo or Marcus Mariota.
While Wilson has been more productive than Thompson or Huntley, his three-year NFL record as a starter is 12-21 and his highest seasonal passer rating was just 77.2.
Outlook
If Wilson is pressed into duty in 2025 and if he performs better than he did in New York, he would hardly be the first quarterback to find life is better when you're an ex-Jet.
Bottom line: Last year's model or this year's?
It all revolves around Tagovailoa's health and whether Wilson can show why he was drafted so highly.
If Wilson meets expectations, kudos to him. If he plays and is at his 77.2 level, the Dolphins would be no better off than they were in 2024.
We'll withhold judgment until then.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins need Zach Wilson to produce if Tua Tagovailoa can't go
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