Miami’s backup QBs have been disastrous this season

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is on his way back to the Miami Dolphins, but his future is precarious at best after several confirmed concussions since joining the NFL in 2020.

The Dolphins are 2-4 after a string of backups lead the team to a 1-3 record in Tagovailoa’s absence. The clear lack of talent behind Tagovailoa, as well as the injury-prone nature of the position across the season (both Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley have been hurt since Tagovailoa went down), Miami is a leading candidate to make a move for a QB ahead of the league’s November 5 trade deadline.

ESPN’s Seth Walder suggested that the team make a firm push to acquire Bryce Young from the Carolina Panthers, who the team benched earlier this season in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“The Dolphins could land Young at his lowest value and slot him behind Tagovailoa, in hopes that McDaniel can rehabilitate the 2023 first overall pick’s career. If Tagovailoa misses any more time, Miami would be able to look to Young; the Dolphins’ backups this season have combined for a 15.3 QBR, so what’s the harm in making a move here?” Walder wrote on Wednesday, Oct. 22. “If Young can regain his form, he could still be useful to Miami going forward for depth (or the Dolphins could even deal him again for a profit). If not, the original trade price surely wouldn’t be steep, so the risk is minimal.”

Carolina (1-6) named Young its starter this week against the Denver Broncos following news that Dalton and his family were involved in a car crash. No one in Dalton’s vehicle required emergency medical care, per an initial report, though Dalton’s injuries were meaningful enough to knock him out of the starting lineup this week.

Dalton’s health status moving forward could impact Young’s trade availability, though nearly two weeks remain until the deadline, which gives Dalton at least some time to heal.

Young has more than two years remaining on his $37.95 million rookie contract.