Miami Dolphins trading for Rosen would make Fitzpatrick a back-up

There is some speculation that the Miami Dolphins have some interest in Arizona Cardinal QB Josh Rosen. If true, what does that mean for Fitzpatrick?

According to Peter King, the Miami Dolphins have done more research on Josh Rosen than any other team the last few weeks. If that is true, are the Dolphins ready to swing a deal if they don’t get the QB they want at 13? More importantly what does it say about the Ryan Fitzpatrick signing?

On the surface, Ryan Fitzpatrick would seem to be the bridge quarterback this year or even in 2020 as the Dolphins work with a young quarterback to develop via the draft. That line of thinking would go out the window if the team traded for Rosen.

Consider that Rosen was the starter in Arizona last year and while he didn’t have a great year, the Dolphins would still need to evaluate him further on the field in 2019 to make a uniform and informed decision for the 2020 draft in regards to a quarterback.

The coaching staff is not going to get a proper evaluation of him on the bench or in the last few weeks of the season. It would then, in theory, make sense to make him the starter in 2019 and see what the kid has to offer going forward. If the Dolphins don’t believe he is the right fit for them, they move on to a QB in 2020 and trade him. If they do, they won’t need to draft a quarterback.

This all comes back to Fitzpatrick who isn’t in Miami to hold a clipboard this year. Miami brough Fitzpatrick in to start this season and potentially mentor a young quarterback this year or next. So signing Rosen would be a bit of surprise and basically make the Fitzpatrick signing a mentor and back-up to a player that may or may not be on the roster as the starter in 2020.