The winds of change are blowing in Miami, and they’re swirling around the quarterback position. After a rollercoaster few years with Tua Tagovailoa under center, the Dolphins appear ready to turn the page.
Multiple reports indicate the team is actively exploring trade options for the 2023 NFL passing-yardage leader. And if a deal doesn’t materialize?
Miami could move on via a post-June 1 release, spreading the cap hit from his remaining guarantees over two seasons.
That move would leave second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers as the only signal-caller on the roster when the new league year kicks off in March. Ewers, a talented but unproven prospect, isn’t likely to be handed the keys to a playoff-caliber roster without a veteran presence in the room. Which brings us to the intriguing possibility that’s starting to gain traction: could Derek Carr be headed to South Beach?
Yes, that Derek Carr - the four-time Pro Bowler who retired last May after a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery made it unlikely he’d play in 2025. At the time, Carr and the Saints reached a financial agreement that allowed New Orleans to clear $30 million in guaranteed money from their books, while Carr kept his original signing bonus. It was a clean break - or so it seemed.
Now, less than a year later, momentum is reportedly building for Carr’s return to the NFL. According to multiple league insiders, including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, Carr is seriously considering a comeback. And Miami is being floated as a potential landing spot.
Let’s be clear - this isn’t just a name-drop for headline value. The Dolphins are built to win now.
With explosive weapons like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, and a defense that can keep pace with just about anyone, this roster doesn’t need a full rebuild. It needs a steady hand at quarterback.
Someone who can keep the offense on schedule, make the right reads, and lead with experience. Carr checks all those boxes.
Of course, this potential reunion would hinge on more than just fit. New head coach Jeff Hafley would need to sell Carr on his vision for the team.
And Miami, currently projected to be $16 million over the cap entering 2026, would need to do some financial gymnastics to make it all work. But if the Dolphins truly believe Carr is the right bridge to their next franchise quarterback - whether that’s Ewers or a 2026 or 2027 draft pick - they’ll find a way to make the numbers work.
Carr’s résumé speaks for itself. Drafted in the second round back in 2014, he spent the bulk of his career with the Raiders, transitioning with the franchise from Oakland to Las Vegas.
In 2023, he signed with New Orleans and played two seasons before stepping away from the game. Over 11 seasons, Carr threw for more than 41,000 yards with a 65.1% completion rate, 257 touchdowns, and 112 interceptions.
His career passer rating sits at a solid 92.8 - a testament to his consistency and command from the pocket.
He’s not the flashiest option, and he’s not the long-term answer. But for a team like Miami - talented, competitive, and quarterback-hungry - Carr could be the stabilizing presence they need.
He’s been through the highs and lows of the league, and he knows how to lead a locker room. If the Dolphins want to stay in the AFC playoff mix while grooming their next guy, bringing Carr out of retirement might be the smartest play they can make.