Around this time last year, the Miami Dolphins were wading into free agent conversations with a small handful of veteran backup quarterbacks possessing pedigree and professionalism.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel knew their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, had a lengthy injury history, both in the NFL and in college.
But they also knew they had just rewarded Tagovailoa with a $212 million contract extension. And they were hopeful of the fact that Tagovailoa had just made it through a full season, with 17 starts.
As per usual, there was a pretty long list of available, capable backups. Not long ago, Miami had employed the likes of Teddy Bridgewater and Jacoby Brissett, former league starters.
In 2024, the list included Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston and Tyrod Taylor.
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All of those players signed contracts worth between $3.1 million and $6 million per season – elsewhere.
At backup quarterback, the Dolphins ended up signing – no one.
We know how this played out for Miami. Not well.
“Injuries happen and I am not using that as an excuse,” Grier said after last season. “It is what it is. Every team deals with it. I would say our biggest one, no matter what happens, is obviously the quarterback. When (Tua) misses 6½ games, when we miss it by a game getting into the playoffs, to me that’s the difference there.”
Tagovailoa missed four starts last season with a concussion, which was his fourth documented concussion. And he missed the final two games of the season with a hip injury the team says is not a long-term concern.
Miami rolled the dice on Mike White (cut before the season), Skylar Thompson (cut near the end of the season) and Tyler “Snoop” Huntley (2-3 as a Dolphins starter in 2024) and they crapped out.
This cannot happen again. And we don’t think it will.
NFL free agency starts Monday
NFL free agency negotiations officially begin Monday, with player contracts to be officially announced no sooner than Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Miami must sign a capable backup for Tagovailoa.
“I think it was pretty obvious, it’s on everybody’s tip of the tongue, that needs to be a focus of ours and it is,” McDaniel said recently.
Before diving into the free agent quarterbacks available for talks starting Monday, let’s close the loop on why Miami passed on signing a backup last year. Allow Grier to explain:
“Mike (McDaniel) and (Dolphins owner) Steve (Ross) are aware of it,” Grier said. “Through it, we were in on a number of top-flight backup quarterbacks in the league. We were runner-ups for a couple of them that we wanted to get here, and for some financial restraints and compensatory pick stuff, we just couldn’t go to those, to the prices.”
In retrospect, of course, that was a mistake.
The Dolphins could have lost a compensatory pick – it’s a complicated formula based on players signed versus lost – if they had extended too far financially for their backup quarterback. But it would have been worth it.
With Mariota or Garoppolo, for example, under center, Miami may very well have survived the Tua injuries and made the playoffs for a third consecutive season under McDaniel.
Just making the playoffs is not the end goal, and Tagovailoa’s long-term health is a story for another day. But Miami must protect itself better in 2025.
Before free agency opens on Monday, teams already have a general idea of what players may be interested and what their price point may be.
Miami needs to add free agents at backup quarterback, guard, safety, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback.
There are a lot of needs on a team that was supposed to be on track to compete with the likes of Buffalo, Kansas City and Baltimore for AFC supremacy in 2025.
Miami Dolphins: Who to pursue in free agency
It’s hard to say how far away Miami is. But this round of free agency is critical for Grier and McDaniel. The pressure is mounting.
Let’s highlight two quarterbacks and two guards we think the Dolphins should seriously explore, if, in fact, they make it to free agency:
Dolphins free agent needs: backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota, Commanders
Mariota’s fit with Dolphins: Mariota, 31, was the second pick in the draft in 2015. That was a long time ago, but Marcus has looked solid in recent stops with Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington. Marcus should be a fit for Miami’s timing-based offense. And the ability to make scramble plays is a big plus. Mariota and Tagovailoa, both born in Hawaii and of Polynesian decent, also are familiar with each other.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams
Garoppolo’s fit with Dolphins: Jimmy G, 33, played six seasons with the 49ers, so he’s comfortable and familiar with McDaniel’s offensive scheme. Garoppolo also once led San Francisco to a Super Bowl played in Miami. Garoppolo passed for 334 yards in a season-finale start for the Rams. Garoppolo has an injury history, but that’s less problematic in a backup role.
Some other quarterbacks expected to be free agents: Drew Lock, Mac Jones, Jameis Winston, Zach Wilson, Cooper Rush
Dolphins free agent needs: guard
Aaron Banks, 49ers
Banks’ fit with Dolphins: Banks, 27, is a second-rounder from Notre Dame. Banks has four years of experience with the 49ers, who obviously use a scheme that is similar to Miami’s. Banks moves well for his size. Banks had five penalties and one sack allowed last season according to Pro Football Focus, which graded him 33rd among all guards.
Teven Jenkins, Bears
Jenkins’ fit with Dolphins: Jenkins, 27, played four seasons for Chicago at tackle and guard. Jenkins, a second-rounder from Oklahoma State in 2021, was PFF’s 13th-best guard in 2024. It’s possible Jenkins lands out of Miami’s price range. Jenkins had four penalties and four sacks allowed last year, per PFF.
Some other guards expected to be free agents: James Daniels, Will Fries, Will Hernandez, Evan Brown, Nate Herbig
Dolphins cap space situation
One issue for the Dolphins is salary cap space.
As of last week, the Dolphins were 23rd in the NFL in 2025 salary cap space, according to Spotrac, with $9.4 million.
Miami could clear some additional cap space with a few contract restructures.
It’s possible Miami is not at the top of the free agent market for many or even any of their positional needs. But they have to hit on the right players at the right spots.
Backup quarterback and guard?
They’re connected, of course.
Last season, Miami was banking on Isaiah Wynn to return to health much earlier than he did. Wynn played 9% of Miami offensive snaps at guard.
Liam Eichenberg (91% played) and Robert Jones (95% played) would be quite capable backups in the NFL. But they were PFF’s 69th- and 57th-highest-graded guards as starters.
Just like backup quarterback, the guard plan was not good enough.
Miami Dolphins must add guards in free agency
“(There are) a couple of guys that we have targeted that you think you can get a deal done with,” McDaniel said recently of the offensive line.
Said Grier: “We’re going to have to invest in the offensive line now…This is the time for us to again start investing in some offensive linemen.”
McDaniel and Grier are not hiding from the obvious.
In free agency, Miami must add a solid backup quarterback capable of winning games if and when Tagovailoa is injured again.
In free agency, Miami must add two guards capable of playing at least league-average football and making a net-plus impact in Miami’s run game.
And, yes, those guards must be capable of protecting Tua.
“I think we have a tangible opportunity to improve,” McDaniel said. “That starts in free agency.”