The Miami Dolphins spoke with their actions and their words in backing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason.
Coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier noted a commitment to the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft for a fourth NFL season since their 2022 season ended. And then they stood by it, passing on such available quarterbacks as Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson and exercising the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s rookie contract.
Tagovailoa made a major stride in Year 3, showing what he can develop into in McDaniel’s offense with an elite wide receiver tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. He threw 25 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while leading the league in passer rating and yards per attempt.
Concerns remain, however, in Tagovailoa’s ability to remain healthy and available after two concussion protocol stints cost him 5 1/ games, including the wild-card round playoff loss at the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa is working on that by doing jiu-jitsu workouts this offseason to strengthen his neck and improve the muscle memory that allows him to protect himself from the hard falls that put his head at risk.
That’s why it was vital for the Dolphins to secure a backup quarterback in free agency that could compete with returning 2022 rookie Skylar Thompson for those No. 2 duties and was familiar with McDaniel’s offensive scheme.
Instead of spending big money on a highly experienced backup — like last offseason with Teddy Bridgewater, who didn’t make it through either of his two starts in place of Tagovailoa — the Dolphins went with another local South Florida product in Mike White, who starred as a high school quarterback for University School in Davie on the same Nova Southeastern campus as the Dolphins’ old facility.
With White secured and Thompson heading into Year 2 under McDaniel, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, Miami has its three quarterbacks on the active roster for the 2023 season.
It’s unlikely the team will seek another with one of its four selections in the NFL draft, which runs from April 27-29 in Chicago. The Dolphins have other needs they can fill with their second- and third-round picks. A sixth- or seventh-round choice would essentially accomplish the same as they already did with Thompson in the 2022 draft. An undrafted quarterback or cheap veteran signing as a fourth training camp arm and viable practice squad option could be more plausible.
White, 28, had a long journey to his first NFL regular-season snaps. They didn’t come to him until 2021 with the New York Jets. But he burst onto the scene then, leading an upset of the Cincinnati Bengals in his first start. He completed 37-of-45 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns. He showed his highs and lows, though, tossing four interceptions two weeks later in a loss to Buffalo.
In 2022, White again had a standout performance in going 22 of 28 for 315 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Chicago Bears. While he couldn’t replicate that type of outing in his next three starts last season, he was widely respected for trying to play through fractured ribs in a loss to the Bills. His final appearance, though, eliminated New York from playoff contention as he completed only 50 percent of passes without a touchdown and tossing two interceptions in Seattle.
White comes from a similar offensive system under former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur that should make his transition into McDaniel’s offense seamless. Jets coach Robert Saleh and McDaniel were also assistants together in San Francisco before they got their head coaching gigs.
Thompson gained valuable experience as a rookie seventh-round pick out of Kansas State. He managed an 11-6 victory over the Jets that clinched a playoff spot for the Dolphins amid a five-game losing streak. He was then only 18 of 45 with two interceptions and one touchdown in the playoff loss at Buffalo, but there aren’t many late-round rookies outside of the 49ers’ Brock Purdy seeing that kind of postseason environment this early in a professional career.
The Dolphins appear set for 2023 with Tagovailoa as the starter, White and Thompson competing for backup duties and possibly another quarterback brought in for training camp and as a practice squad player.
