Another name emerges in Dolphins’ plans to add an established veteran backup QB
The Dolphins are determined to add a proven, established No. 2 quarterback to back up Tua Tagovailoa, and Marcus Mariota has emerged as a player very much on their radar.
“There could be a little bit of interest in Marcus Mariota between the Raiders and Dolphins,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Pat McAfee’s ESPN radio show on Monday. “He’s gonna have some choices this offseason.”
Schefter mentioned Miami after noting that the Raiders could sign Mariota to work with new coach Pete Carroll and their new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, who previously coached Mariota for two years at Oregon.
But Schefter added: “I’ll tell you where else Marcus Mariota is going to be an option, with Tua, his good friend Tua. He’ll be an option there... He’s going to have some interesting options this offseason.”
Schefter noted that with the Raiders and Dolphins, Mariota will have two potential options with no state income taxes.
Mariota, 31, was the backup with the Washington Commanders this season and completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has started 74 NFL games, including 61 in Tennessee and 13 in Atlanta and has a 90.1 career passer rating, with 97 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He was selected second overall by the Titans in 2015.
Andy Dalton is another impending free agent who is held in high regard by the Dolphins, according to a source. Miami explored trading for him after Tagovailoa’s concussion in September but nothing materialized.
Dalton, the longtime former Bengals starter, started five games for the Panthers this past season and had seven touchdowns, six interceptions and an 82 passer rating.
Mariota is six years younger than the 37-year-old Dalton.
Other quarterbacks set to become free agents in March: Sam Darnold (likely will find a starting job somewhere), Justin Fields, Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac Jones, Joe Flacco, Mason Rudolph, Joshua Dobbs, Drew Lock, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Jarrett Stidham, Cooper Rush and Carson Wentz.
Tyler Huntley, who finished the season as Miami’s No. 2 quarterback, said in December that the Dolphins told his agent they would like to keep him. But Huntley could end up as Miami’s No. 3 QB if they re-sign him and don’t draft a quarterback.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is plugged into the league, does not represent either player but said on his weekly WSVN-7 Sunday night segment that quarterback depth is viewed as a major need for the Dolphins and he wouldn’t be surprised if the Dolphins draft one on the second day of April’s NFL Draft.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM.
