Miami Dolphins never had “tank” plan regardless of Josh Rosen addition
By Brian Miller
There are a lot of people who are not happy with the Miami Dolphins trading for Josh Rosen during Friday nights portion of the draft.
It has been a mantra since the Miami Dolphins began gutting their roster in the hopes of rebuilding a competitive football team. “Tanking” was the common theme. A way for the Dolphins to ensure themselves a top quarterback in 2020’s draft but then Josh Rosen happened.
The Miami Dolphins are not handing the keys to their franchise over to the quarterback. He will compete for the starting job and at some point he will make his start in the 2019 season and the public evaluation of him will begin. His signing however changes little to nothing.
Chris Grier said in a post-draft conference that the value to obtain Josh Rosen was just too good to pass up. In 2018’s draft it has been rumored that Grier like Rosen but not enough to trade up for him. Adam Gase on the other hand did not. Gase won out to a degree as the Dolphins stayed put and let the Cardinals jump over them for the QB.
A year later, the opportunity presented itself and Grier felt the compensation vs. the upside that Rosen could bring was too much to pass over.
The Dolphins have maintained that they were never planning to “tank” for a top 2020 QB. Brian Flores told media that he hates the term and what it stands for. The Miami Dolphins will compete and what happens, happens. Now they will compete with a young quarterback who has the physical tools and football IQ to be something the team hasn’t had in a long time. A legit franchise QB. And if it doesn’t work out? Then the Dolphins will draft another QB in 2020 and they will continue to do so until they find the right one.
At worst, the Dolphins spend a first round pick next season on a quarterback or they see enough to skip the QB class and wait until 2021 when Trevor Lawrence may be available. At best they found their long and short-term franchise quarterback for the next 15 years.
More from Phin Phanatic
- Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
- 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
- Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
- 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
- Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
Make no mistake though, Rosen’s addition does not rule out drafting a quarterback in next years draft. If anything it puts pressure on Rosen to be show the coaching staff that he can be what they want him to be or he faces a similar fate in 2020’s draft and gets traded again. Or perhaps in 2021.
The franchise is not on Rosen’s shoulders yet but he is a big statement addition that the Dolphins are serious about finding a franchise signal caller. Even at his worst in Arizona, he still has more experience than the quarterback that were available when the Dolphins were drafting in round two and beyond.
It is far too early to evaluate the trade as a success or a failure but given the fact that Miami is making a committment to getting better is the right move regardless of the quarterback they traded for.