Dolphins potential QB option comes off the board. And Dolphins free agent, draft notes
The pool of proven, potential Dolphins backup quarterback options shrunk slightly on Tuesday when Andy Dalton opted to bypass free agency next month and instead agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with Carolina, according to ESPN.
The Dolphins hold Dalton in high regard and inquired with Carolina about trading for him last September, a league source said.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has said that backup quarterback will be addressed, so that the team will not be left in a precarious position if Tua Tagovailoa is injured again. Last season, Tagovailoa missed four games while in concussion protocol and two with a hip injury to end the season.
Marcus Mariota remains an expected Dolphins backup quarterback target in free agency.
“He’ll be an option there,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said recently. “There could be a little bit of interest in Marcus Mariota between the Raiders and Dolphins.”
Mariota, 31, was the backup with the Washington Commanders last 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. Mariota was selected second overall by the Titans in 2015.
If the Dolphins don’t end up with Mariota, other quarterbacks set for free agency in March include Sam Darnold (likely will find a starting job somewhere), Aaron Rodgers, 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.
More free agent news
Tuesday was the first day that teams could place franchise or transition tags on impending free agents, but it would be a surprise if the Dolphins used either designation. A franchise tag essentially binds a player to his team.
A transition tag guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any outside offer. Tags can be used through March 4.
Using the tag on safety Jevon Holland, who is expected to be the Dolphins’ most pricey impending free agent, is unlikely because the franchise tag for a safety is projected to be $19.6 million and the transition tag is expected to be $15.6 million.
The Dolphins are $5.4 million above the projected 2025 salary cap and must be cap compliant by March 10.
The Dolphins have 25 impending unrestricted free agents:
Huntley; receivers River Cracraft, Braxton Berrios, Dee Eskridge; running back Jeff Wilson Jr; offensive linemen Kendall Lamm, Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg, Isaiah Wynn and Jackson Carman; tight end Jack Stoll; defensive linemen Calais Campbell, Benito Jones, Da’Shawn Hand; edge players Emmanuel Ogbah and Tyus Bowser; linebackers Tyrel Dodson, Cam Brown, Anthony Walker and Duke Riley; safeties Holland, Jordan Poyer and Elijah Campbell; and cornerback Siran Neal, as well as long snapper Jake McQuaide.
Cornerback Kader Kohou, linebacker Quinton Bell and receiver Anthony Schwartz are restricted free agents. The Dolphins can retain the right to match any offer for Kohou by giving him a second-round tender at $5.2 million or the lowest possible tender, at $3.2 million, which would give Miami a right to match any outside offer but no compensation if he leaves.
Edge player Cam Goode, receiver Grant DuBose and tackle Kion Smith are exclusive rights free agents and will be cheap to retain.
More mocks
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has the Dolphins selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker 13th overall in his newest first round projections, noting “Booker was a rock in the middle of the Alabama offensive line and he would provide a much-needed upgrade in Miami.”
Jeremiah has Texas guard/tackle Kelvin Banks, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson and Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen going in the three slots before the Dolphins’ pick.
Jeremiah has Missouri guard/tackle Armand Membou, Georgia edge player Mykel Williams and Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant immediately following the Dolphins’ pick.
Georgia safety Malaki Starks remains a polarizing figure. While ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. mocked him to Miami at 13, Jeremiah has him slipping to 32nd.
▪ Though eyebrows were raised when new Dolphins receivers coach Robert Prince interviewed for the offensive coordinator job with New Orleans last weekend, the front-runner for thr post reportedly is Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier.
New Saints coach and former Eagles OC Kellen Moore and Nussmeier have coached together for years, including on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl winning staff this past season.
Here’s my Tuesday piece on veteran free agent guard options for Miami, and who would be a good fit.
