Dolphins QB coach offers keen insight on Wilson, Ewers, where they stand
After seemingly handling backup quarterback on the fly for a few years, making it less of a priority than warranted, the Dolphins have now invested in two players who were once high-end prospects at the position.
Whether No. 2 quarterback Zach Wilson and rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers turn out to be wise investments remains to be seen.
Wilson, who has already been named the No. 2 quarterback, has thrown three interceptions during the first 10 training camp practices but also has displayed the arm strength and impressive physical skills that made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, before he flamed out with the Jets.
Ewers has exceeded expectations, playing mostly error-free in training camp and showing improved poised in the pocket. His play so far suggests he might be capable of becoming more than an NFL backup someday.
“I’m very confident in our quarterback situation as it stands right now,” said quarterbacks coach Darell Bevell, who is pleased with Tua Tagovailoa’s sharpness during a training camp where he has thrown more than a dozen touchdowns and just one interception.
“Zach has some scars from earlier from things that he’s gone through and is trying not to let those scars affect what we’re doing right now. And then Q’s a new guy just learning everything that we’re trying to do. And they’re both handling it great.” Bevell assessed both players in a conversation with a few reporters on Monday:
On Wilson
Bevell was asked why the team pursued Wilson, who has the second-worst passer rating (73.2) among all active quarterbacks with at least 15 starts, ahead of only the Colts’ Anthony Richardson:
“I mean, he’s very talented,” Bevell said. “He’s a top-five pick for a reason. He’s a very skilled thrower. Talented arm. He’s got athletic ability, so he has all the traits that you want. And sometimes you can look at situations and say, ‘I want to work with that talent. And I feel like it’s my job to get the talent to come to life.’”
What did he and Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier like about Wilson?
“You see some of the special throws that he can make in practice,” Bevell said. “That’s the No. 1 starting point is just the talent that he has. He can move around. He can save plays for you if he needs to. So that was something that we really targeted.
“And where some guys may think, the guy’s done [after three disappointing years with the Jets and one year as a No. 3 quarterback in Denver], we saw something where we really wanted to take the tools that he had” and make him better.
“People think Tua couldn’t play and you see how he’s playing now. And so we wanted to be able to do that with Zach. And we love what we see…. He’s performed well.”
Of Wilson’s three interceptions and a handful of dropped interceptions so far in camp, Bevell said only about half were Wilson’s fault.
“For example, the one that he threw [Sunday], Zach was doing exactly what we’re asking him to do,” Bevell said. “Now there’s just a little tweak in there that we need to change. So we were excited about that play even though it ended up being, what looks like a terrible play. But he’s doing exactly what we were asking him to do in that situation.”
Wilson has said in this offense, he must get the ball out quickly and throw to a spot, something which has been an adjustment for him.
Bevell and McDaniel studied tape of Wilson the past two offseasons; they also considered him in spring 2024 before sticking with Mike White (who was cut last August) and Skylar Thompson, who was injured in Week 3 and was eventually replaced by Tyler Huntley while Tagovailoa was sidelined twice, first by a concussion and then with a hip injury.
Did Bevell notice any carelessness when he studied Wilson’s Jets tape? After all, he threw 25 interceptions compared with 23 TDs in 34 games with the Jets.
“I don’t know if carelessness is the right word,” Bevell said. “I’ve had big-arm guys in the past, and sometimes big-arm guys think they can fit things it in there because of their arm. There are times that he can make better decisions with it.”
On Ewers
Bevell said “he’s doing a really nice job. He is definitely getting more comfortable with what we’re doing. The installation, as the further we get along, starts to slow down. He works extra.
“He puts really good stuff on tape, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. When he does make mistakes, we’re able to get them corrected. He’s working on the little details that we’re asking him to work on. I’m happy with where he’s at.”
What makes Bevell believe Ewers can be a good NFL quarterback?
“Obviously there’s a long way to go for him. We’re excited about where he is at this point, but there’s still a lot of obstacles to overcome and things to continue to improve on.
“But I just like his demeanor; he’s a very calm, cool, got a little swag about him. He doesn’t get rattled. So that’s a really good starting point for a quarterback position. He sees things really well; he can anticipate really well.”
How are his accuracy and arm strength compared to the average NFL quarterback?
“He’s been really good in both of those. His accuracy has been good. And his arm strength, I mean, he’s not Brett Favre, Matt Stafford in that category, but he has plenty for what we need.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM.
