Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history and puts the Miami Dolphins at a perpetual risk of falling apart at any time. While investment in the offensive line should add some insurance to his health, a backup quarterback was a necessity in Miami this offseason.
Miami added Zach Wilson in free agency, but he’s yet to put up numbers or pass the eye test for a starting-caliber QB in the league. One analyst predicts the Dolphins will select one of the fastest-rising QB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Dolphins Predicted To Select Tyler Shough in 2025 NFL Draft
Since being drafted in 2021 with the second overall pick by the New York Jets, Wilson has been among the worst quarterbacks in the league, if not the worst. In his three years with the Jets, he has averaged just a 60% completion rate on his passes.
That could open the door for the Dolphins to consider drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. PFSN’s Ben Rolfe predicts in his seven-round mock draft that Miami will select Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough at No. 110 overall, following the additions of an offensive lineman and a wide receiver in the early rounds
Shough is a mature prospect, having played seven seasons of high-level college football across three major programs: Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville.
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Over his career, he’s started 33 games and appeared in 42, throwing for 59 touchdowns while adding 11 rushing scores. His most productive season came in 2024, his first year with the Cardinals, where he started 12 games, finishing with 3,195 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
At 6’5″ and 225 pounds, Shough has a strong arm capable of making throws at all levels with precision. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he was one of the fastest-rising prospects in the draft, and given his experience running an offense, Miami would have a higher-ceiling insurance policy if Tagovailoa gets injured again.
Shough’s Scouting Report
PFSN’s Reese Decker rated Shough as one of the few quarterbacks in this draft class who could immediately step into an NFL offense and make an impact. However, Decker pointed out that Shough is nearly two years older than most of his QB class, and combined with his injury history, teams could pass on him early.
“Shough is arguably the most intriguing prospect in this draft class. If he were 22 years old with a clean bill of health, he would likely be in the conversation alongside Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders at the top of the draft — potentially even making a case as QB1.
“However, due to his age and extensive injury history, he currently projects as a Day 2 prospect who could slide into the fourth or fifth round.
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“Teams will likely struggle to justify investing significant draft capital in Shough at 25 years old, as they won’t have the same runway to develop him compared to younger quarterbacks in this class.
“Players like Jaxson Dart (21), Quinn Ewers (21), Ward (22), Jalen Milroe (22), Will Howard (23), and Sanders (23) are all at least two years younger, making them more attractive long-term investments.
“By the time Shough’s rookie contract expires, he’ll be 29 or 30 years old, a factor that will weigh heavily on how teams assess his draft value. However, Shough may not need a lot of time to develop. He feels like a prospect who could step in and immediately conduct an offense. Simply put, he’s an NFL quarterback.”
