Jarrett Stidham declares could he be the next Miami Dolphins franchise QB?
By Shawn Digity
The Miami Dolphins need a quarterback. The Ryan Tannehill experience has gone on long enough. There are a lot of quarterback options to scope out during the 2019 offseason, but the best longer-term answer could be in the draft.
Could freshly-declared, Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham be the answer to the Dolphins quarterback problem?
Before you snort through your nose in disgust and exasperation and say “no”, hear me out. The Miami Dolphins have a quarterback problem. Ryan Tannehill has been the “not the problem but also not the solution” guy for several years, and that isn’t good enough for the quarterback of any franchise.
In his seventh year, the problems that plagued Tannehill are still apparent (pocket presence), which has affected the offense’s momentum, and now he has injury concerns as well.
Tannehill’s ceiling has been reached and a fan’s stance on whether to stay the course or roll the dice on a new QB both hold merit, but if there are too many doubts or concerns about a player once they’ve maxed out, then that should be a telltale sign to move on to the next guy. Thank you, next.
It’s close to a foregone conclusion that Miami Dolphins are already planning on addressing the situation next spring. So now the question is who will be the guy? Reports from Twitter from a few weeks ago swirled, stating that the Dolphins would be in the market for a new quarterback next offseason, whether by free agency or the draft.
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With all that being said, is Jarrett Stidham a good direction for the Miami Dolphins? Stidham is certainly polarizing and has seen plenty of speed bumps and potholes this season and he has plenty of shortcomings, but he has the tools and potential to be molded.
Jarrett Stidham would have to be drafted in the third round–the first or second round is too early–and groomed behind an established veteran to optimize his talent and career. Patience is something that no fan wants to hear when they have their new franchise quarterback, but it’s often time the best recipe for long-term success.
Stidham is developmental, for sure, but Adam Gase could be one of the better coaching options in the league to maximize his talent. Stidham has a laundry list of good and bad qualities so one’s perspective on him could go either way.
The short answer to the question of whether or not Stidham could be the next FIns franchise quarterback is both yes and no, and if I use the logic I used for Tannehill earlier then it translates to a no. Stidham could be a fun player to take under the wings in the NFL and maybe he becomes a good starter, but Miami’s situation requires a more NFL-ready prospect.