The Dolphins’ season is in serious trouble, and it’s painfully clear that sticking to the established order may doom their season.
Miami acquired blown out by the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon in a 24-3 beatdown that highlighted the profound drop-off the Mike McDaniel offense faces with no competent QB beneath middle. No matter how extremely you fee Tua Tagovaila, it’s unquestionable that he has good command of the McDaniel system and is aware of how one can discover the workforce’s array of YAC athletes in stride to open up the sector. That is one thing that backup Skylar Thompson couldn’t do, and neither may Tim Boyle when he needed to swimsuit up.
This was imagined to be a marquee 12 months for the Dolphins, and thus far it’s changed into a nightmare. Because it stands Tua received’t be capable to observe and play till Week 8 on the earliest, and even then it appears like a really hopeful timeline contemplating the seriousness of Tagovailoa’s three concussions. Whereas the schedule is extraordinarily favorable till that point, with video games towards the Titans, Patriots, Colts and Cardinals on the timeline — that’s additionally a curse. That is the best stretch of the Dolphins’ schedule, video games that you just’d count on the workforce to go 4-0 in, nevertheless it’s powerful to favor Miami in any of them proper now based mostly on the extent of play.
The entrance workplace can’t afford to face pat. They will’t simply sit idly by and attempt to wait out Tua’s return in the event that they need to make the playoffs in 2024, particularly with the Jets discovering their footing and the Payments proving they’re the category of the division once more. It’s time to make a daring transfer to attempt to save this season, whereas additionally placing a plan in place in case Tua isn’t in a position to return till later within the season.
Three free brokers price bringing in
Ryan Tannehill
This has been the favourite title thrown about, and rightfully so. Tannehill’s clear unwillingness to function a veteran mentor to a younger quarterback left him unsigned in free company, which is why he’s not on a roster proper now. Nonetheless, Miami is a unique state of affairs. With the Dolphins he’d merely be requested to exit and make some short-yardage throws, with out risking an excessive amount of within the course of. It’s no precisely Tannehill’s wheelhouse as a QB, however he may make it work.
There’s a number of unhealthy blood from Tannehill’s first run with the workforce, however that is nearly a wholly new group outdoors of the manager ranges — and he’s nonetheless a participant who desires to show that he can grasp within the league.
It’s unclear what contract he would ask for, however there isn’t a single higher possibility proper now than simply sucking it up, paying Tannehill, and hoping he can get you to some extent the place Tua can take over in time for the playoffs.
Cam Newton
One other title garnering a number of consideration, the previous MVP has been outspoken that he feels he can nonetheless play and contribute at a excessive stage. Sure, he’s been out of soccer for a few years. Additionally, that doesn’t actually matter when your different choices are as unhealthy as those Miami can placed on the sector proper now.
Quick vary accuracy has at all times been a little bit of an achilles heel for Newton, who prefers to throw huge and generate explosive performs. Nonetheless, his skill as a runner opens up extra wrinkles for a coach like McDaniel to benefit from. That is positively a state of affairs to observe, as a result of it may work.
Desmond Ridder
There’s an enormous drop off earlier than we hit our subsequent title right here. Nonetheless, we’ve seen in latest weeks what a change of surroundings can do for a QB. Malik Willis is balling out in Inexperienced Bay, Sam Darnold is tearing it up in Minnesota, and Justin Fields is discovering his footing with the Steelers, simply to call a number of.
It wasn’t that way back that Ridder was one of many high quarterbacks within the 2022 NFL Draft. There’s a probability (albeit slim) that he may step into the Miami offense and make this click on, doubtlessly giving the workforce a younger participant who’s a possible long-term backup for Tua, in a position to step in every time wanted.
Sadly, it’s trying like they want somebody extra typically than they need to step in for Tua.
Three commerce targets who’re prospects
Bryce Younger
As quickly because the Panthers benched Bryce Younger there was speak across the Dolphins, and rightfully so. If anybody can scheme round measurement it’s Mike McDaniel, and a disastrous begin to the season made it simple to neglect that Younger was discovering his footing in the direction of the tip of his rookie season.
The hangup could be compensation. Proper now there’s no motivation for the Panthers to maneuver on from Younger in trade for a day three choose, as has been projected. Whether or not they intend to start out him once more in 2024 or not, the group invested an excessive amount of to simply flush it away this rapidly.
Meaning the Dolphins could must over-spend in the event that they needed to get Younger, which requires a number of religion in his skill from Alabama, and basically writing off all the pieces you’ve seen from him as a professional. That’s a tricky tablet to swallow.
Russell Wilson
Let’s throw this one on the market, as a result of it’s fascinating. The Steelers are going through a QB controversy with Russ able to return from damage, however the workforce is rolling proper now with Justin Fields.
A commerce may clear up this drawback for each groups, giving the Dolphins a participant in Wilson who may completely run the offense they want, and do it very properly. In the meantime the Steelers get to maintain taking a look at Fields and decide whether or not he’s a long-term reply on the place, or nonetheless only a BandAid to get them by means of 2024.
At this stage in his profession you’re not getting elite-level, Seahawks Russ — however an older, nonetheless efficient participant when put able to succeed. Miami could possibly be simply the touchdown spot he wants, and it might take a number of strain off each organizations.
Carson Wentz
How essential is a backup QB in Kansas Metropolis, actually? These groups have a historical past of buying and selling with one another going again to the Tyreek Hill deal, and it reveals that KC isn’t actually apprehensive about buying and selling to a contender contained in the convention.
Wentz has steadily rebuilt himself right into a stable backup QB who can step in when wanted and make some performs. He’s an correct passer who thrives making quick yardage throws, and that’s precisely what the Dolphins want proper now.
It’s not an attractive transfer, or one that may garner a lot pleasure — however Miami may do a complete lot worse.
