Dolphins Face Familiar Questions After Blowout Loss: Who’s Part of the Core-and Who’s the Quarterback of the Future?
Another Sunday, another gut check for the Miami Dolphins. A 45-21 loss to the Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium wasn’t just a scoreboard beatdown-it was a mirror held up to a franchise still searching for its identity. And with it, a second straight losing season is now guaranteed.
Head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t sugarcoat it. The third-down tackling wasn’t there.
The third-quarter woes-an issue that’s lingered all season-showed up again. But the real heart of his frustration came in a simple, pointed question: **“Who are your core people?”
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That’s the kind of question that cuts deeper than any missed tackle or blown coverage. It’s about the future. About who’s truly part of building something sustainable in Miami.
Quarterback Carousel Continues
The biggest piece of that future, of course, is the quarterback. And right now, the Dolphins don’t have a clear answer under center.
Tua Tagovailoa was in street clothes, listed as the emergency third-stringer. Zach Wilson, the midseason addition, served as backup. That left rookie Quinn Ewers to make his first NFL start-and while the stat line wasn’t sparkling, there were flashes of something worth watching.
Ewers threw for 260 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Not the kind of debut that sets off fireworks, but he looked calm, composed, and confident.
That matters. The moment didn’t seem too big for him, and McDaniel confirmed he plans to start the rookie again next week.
“It wasn’t too big for him,” McDaniel said postgame. And that’s not nothing.
Ewers, rocking cowboy boots, tight jeans, and a George Strait T-shirt at the podium, looked every bit the Texas kid he is. And while he might not be Miami’s version of Brock Purdy just yet, he didn’t look overwhelmed by the speed or pressure of the NFL game.
The Tua Era Appears to Be Over
As for Tua, it’s starting to feel like we’ve seen his last snap in a Dolphins uniform. The team could be looking at a massive $99 million dead cap hit if they move on, but the writing may already be on the wall. He led the league in passing yards, completion percentage, and passer rating at various points-but in Miami, the lack of a playoff win has defined his tenure more than the stats ever could.
Fair or not, that’s the reality. And now, the Dolphins find themselves in quarterback limbo.
Could someone like Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, or even Malik Willis serve as a bridge next season? Maybe.
But the Dolphins don’t just need a placeholder. They need their own Joe Burrow-the kind of franchise cornerstone who can lead, elevate, and win.
Burrow, by the way, was the one slicing up Miami’s defense on Sunday, tossing four touchdowns and showing exactly what a franchise QB looks like.
A Missed Shot at Burrow, and a Long-Term Reset?
Miami wanted Burrow back in 2020. That’s no secret.
They reportedly offered a haul of picks to move up in the draft, but it didn’t happen. They ended up with Tua, while Burrow and Justin Herbert went on to become stars elsewhere.
Now, the Dolphins are staring down a potential rebuild, and the 2027 quarterback class is already being whispered about as a possible target. That’s two full seasons away. In the meantime, they’ll need to navigate a messy salary cap situation and make some hard roster decisions-starting with the futures of Tua and Tyreek Hill.
And that’s just the beginning.
No GM, No Playoff Wins, and a Lot of Questions
The Dolphins don’t currently have a full-time general manager. McDaniel, for now, appears safe.
His 34-34 record includes two playoff appearances, but no wins. Owner Stephen Ross reportedly wants to see what McDaniel can do with a new GM and a new quarterback.
That’s a fair approach-but it won’t be easy.
There’s a lot of work to do. Miami hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years. And right now, it’s hard to say if there’s a franchise quarterback on the roster.
Ewers showed poise, mobility, and a live arm in his debut. He looked like someone worth developing.
But projecting him as a long-term starter? That’s a leap no one can make just yet.
Two Games Left, Then the Real Work Begins
With two games to go, the Dolphins are in evaluation mode. These final weeks aren’t about chasing a playoff spot-they’re about figuring out who belongs in the locker room when the next chapter begins.
Who’s part of the solution? Who’s part of the core?
And maybe most importantly: Who’s going to be the one under center when the Dolphins finally stop asking these same questions?
The answers aren’t here yet. But the clock is ticking.