Miami Dolphins need a good backup QB in 2023 regardless of Tua’s health
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are heading into the playoffs without Tua Tagovailoa and it should be a cautionary advisory to Chris Grier. Get another quarterback this off-season.
Stephen Ross wants to win football games and he knows his window is closing. The fact he opted to even draft an early quarterback is somewhat surprising given his desire to hold a Lombardi Trophy. With Tua missing his third consecutive game this week, Ross’ patience may not be strong enough to not push for someone else.
For Miami, it’s a matter of having something in place that the team can rely upon. Someone that the team can count on. Injuries happen, all the time, but durability and Tua Tagovailoa is a legit concern and if you don’t believe that, then you are fully lying to yourself.
I’m not advocating for Tua to be released or traded or even replaced. That is not the purpose of this. This is not about trading for Lamar Jackson or Aaron Rodgers or Jimmy Garoppolo. This is about finding a realistic quarterback to be the backup. A legit QB that can come in and play 100% better than Teddy Bridgewater or Jacoby Brissett.
The Miami Dolphins need more than one quarterback because like it or not, Tua Tagovailoa can not be relied upon for a full season of football until he actually plays a full season. Miami is in a horrible position heading into the Bills game but to be clear, this was fully unexpected.
Miami thought they had a quality backup in Teddy Bridgewater. They were completely wrong. Bridgewater has been horrible when in the game, which hasn’t been very often. Tua was supposed to lead the team all year and his concussions overshadowed a league leading season and has legitimately put his future in question.
Miami has holes that need filled on both sides of the ball and quarterback should not be one of them but sadly, it is. The bigger problem for the Dolphins is that finding a backup is not going to be easy. Good quarterbacks are typically not backups. The Dolphins also won’t have a lot of money to spend either. That is problematic as well.
Regardless, the Dolphins have to do something. They have made moves that indicate they are all-in with this roster. Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Terron Armstead, are not players that you build a future around, you build championships around them.
Stephen Ross knows this. He knows he has at best another two years before he has to start rebuilding areas of the team and quarterback is going to be an issue. Miami needs to ride with Tua next season but they have to have a backup plan in place before the season starts. Riding Tua with the expectation of finishing the season if fine, provided the team is willing to throw in the towel if he gets hurt. The smart play, get someone that can play when and if Tua can’t.