The Miami Dolphins thought they had a clear plan at quarterback after signing Malik Willis this offseason and bringing Quinn Ewers back for a second look. That idea has already taken a hit.
Willis and the starters opened Friday night’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders with a sharp 93-yard touchdown drive, but the rest of the night went sideways. Ewers’ performance in particular raised real questions, to the point that his spot as Miami’s backup quarterback for the coming season now looks shaky.
There’s still time for Ewers to steady himself, and one preseason game alone won’t decide everything. But with Jon-Eric Sullivan and the front office watching closely, the Dolphins may already be weighing other options if the rookie keeps stumbling.
The team isn’t hunting for someone who can challenge Willis for the starting job. It’s looking for a dependable backup who can help keep the offense moving if needed.
Jimmy Garoppolo is the biggest name still out there. Miami was linked to him before the Willis signing, and five months later he remains unsigned.
Garoppolo has spent the past couple of seasons backing up Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles, and he hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2024. His market is thin right now, especially after the Detroit Lions signed Joshua Dobbs following Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement and the Houston Texans added Brett Rypien.
John Wolford is another veteran fallback. He hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2022, but he brings the kind of steady, trustworthy backup profile teams can lean on.
An undrafted free agent in 2018, Wolford has bounced around the league and most recently spent time on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad last year. The numbers haven’t been pretty, but coaches know what they’re getting, and that matters if the Dolphins need someone to absorb snaps and keep the season on track.
Tanner McKee is a more intriguing name because he’s still with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s battling Andy Dalton for the QB2 job behind Jalen Hurts, with Dalton currently holding the edge.
The Eagles also drafted Cole Payton in the fifth round this year, and his play in the 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens - including Philadelphia’s only touchdown - may make it harder to keep four quarterbacks around. McKee is under contract through 2027, but if he doesn’t win the backup job, Philadelphia could move him or let him go during roster cutdowns.
Back in January, ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak predicted Miami would trade for McKee for a mid-round pick. That price feels too rich now; a late-round swap or even a waiver claim sounds more realistic.
Dillon Gabriel is another name to watch because the Cleveland Browns have too many quarterbacks and not enough clarity. The Browns are also in position to take another one near the top of next year’s draft, which could make some of their current passers available.
Miami fans might prefer Taylen Green, and that’s understandable - the Arkansas prospect was a favorite coming out of the draft. Green also didn’t play a snap in Cleveland’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, which could make him the easier get.
Still, the Browns used a third-round pick in 2025 on Gabriel and may want some return on that investment. He was drafted two rounds ahead of Shedeur Sanders, though Sanders has clearly moved ahead of him on the depth chart and is now more in a battle with Deshaun Watson for QB1 than anything else.
Gabriel might not be a clear upgrade over Ewers, but if Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley think he is, it’s worth making the call.
Jack Plummer is the most recent name on Miami’s radar. The Dolphins worked him out in July, and while nothing came of it then, that door remains open since he’s still unsigned.
Plummer was the UFL MVP last season after throwing 17 touchdowns and just one interception in 10 games for the Orlando Storm. He also spent time on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, though he has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
If Miami brought him in, he’d likely start behind Miller on the depth chart, but the Dolphins have already shown some interest. Plummer also set a UFL record with 255 straight pass attempts without an interception, and he took a physical during his workout with Miami, which suggests the organization hasn’t forgotten about him.
In Other News...
Dolphins May Have Found An Unexpected Offensive Line Tone Setter
Jonah Savaiinaeas preseason work has given Miami something it has been looking for up front: a clear example of the kind of physical, aggressive blocking the coaching staff wants to see more often. After a rough rookie season, the lineman has drawn attention for the right reasons in camp, and head coach Jeff Hafley has taken notice of the way Savaiinaea is helping set a tougher tone around the line of scrimmage.
The bigger takeaway for Miami is that the improvement has come with a reshuffling of fit and comfort. Savaiinaea looks more at home after being moved back to his natural right side by new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and the Dolphins are treating that progress as part of a broader push to raise the standard across the front. Hafley has also pointed to positive showings from Patrick Paul, Will Kacmarek, Greg Dulcich and Kadyn Proctor, but Savaiinaea is the one who may be emerging as the clearest tone setter. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Hafley Sends Early Message About What Dolphins Will Not Tolerate
During the Dolphins preseason opener, the focus briefly shifted from the play itself to the kind of mistake that can undo a drive and force a coach to make an immediate point. After Ollie Gordon II drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flipping the ball at a defender, Jeff Hafley pulled him from the game, making it clear early that the standard in Miami is about more than effort and talent.
Hafley said penalties like that are unacceptable because they hurt the team, and he framed the decision as part of a broader message about discipline and self-control. He also addressed the incident with Gordon and the rest of the team, using one preseason moment to reinforce what will and will not be tolerated as Miami tries to set its tone for the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins O-Line Depth Just Took Another Hit Before Week 1
Miamis offensive line depth has been under pressure all summer, and the latest roster shuffle only adds to the uncertainty heading into Week 1. The Dolphins placed veteran guard/tackle Jamaree Salyer on injured reserve, a move that trims an already fragile-looking group up front as the team keeps sorting through injuries and preseason evaluations.
The Dolphins also waived/injured cornerback Ethan Robinson, then filled out the roster by signing linebacker Cam Riley and bringing back quarterback Mark Gronowski. Even as those moves help cover other spots, the quarterback add is the kind of transaction that draws attention because it comes in the middle of a broader series of depth adjustments, and Miami is still working through what the final version of its roster is going to look like. [Read more 🡒]