After Passing on QBs in NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins Should Call an Old Friend

There’s a school of thought that says teams should draft a quarterback every year — even if they already have one (or even two) they like on their roster.

The Miami Dolphins apparently think differently.

Miami Dolphins’ Quarterback Depth Chart

Despite signaling that he was open to taking a quarterback on Day 3 prior to the draft — saying, “You always look at opportunities for where you can add depth in your roster, so I just think that goes across the board for any position” — Dolphins GM Chris Grier ultimately did not.

That was a totally in-character decision.

In Mike McDaniel’s three seasons as their coach, the Dolphins have picked just one QB — Skylar Thompson, selected with the 247th overall pick in 2022.

Yet, the franchise’s reluctance to use draft capital on a quarterback far predates McDaniel’s arrival. Since 2013, the Dolphins have drafted just three quarterbacks: Thompson, Tua Tagovailoa (2020), and Brandon Doughty (2016).

What’s more, the Dolphins have added just one quarterback to their roster this entire offseason: UDFA Gavin Hardison, who is expected to participate in this weekend’s minicamp.

Certainly, quarterback was low on the Dolphins’ list of needs entering the NFL offseason, since Tagovailoa, Thompson, and Mike White were already under contract in 2024.

But, as McDaniel said in the moments after Miami’s playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, “you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse.”

And the Dolphins’ quarterback depth chart hasn’t really improved year over year.

Even with Tagovailoa’s $18.4 million raise this season thanks to the fifth-year option, the Dolphins are still middle-of-the-pack in 2024 quarterback spending ($29.4 million).

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What’s more, Tagovailoa and White are in the final year of their existing contracts. And while the expectation is the Dolphins will extend Tua this offseason, it would have been helpful to take a low-risk flier on a late-round QB instead of doubling down on running back, EDGE, and wide receiver.

There’s nothing the Dolphins can do about any of that now. What’s done is done.

A Dolphins-Tannehill Reunion?

But there is still a way that Miami could meaningfully improve its QB room — if the price is right.

Bring back Ryan Tannehill, the former first-round pick who spent his first six years with the Dolphins and is still third on the franchise’s all-time passing list (20,434 yards).

Tannehill has been out of work since the Tennessee Titans allowed his contract to expire without an extension.

And while he will likely never again be an NFL team’s QB1 plan, there’s certainly reason to believe the Dolphins would be in better hands with Tannehill over White, should Tagovailoa have to miss extended time this offseason.

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Again, this is where finances come in. White is making just $3.5 million in cash this year — and none of it is guaranteed. If he’s willing, Miami could sign Tannehill to a similar contract, and let him slug it out with White, Thompson, and Hardison this summer.