CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 23, 2018: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 23, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 26-18. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
Tyrod Taylor will back up Phillip Rivers in Los Angeles. Why didn’t the Miami Dolphins sign him?
A new coaching staff for the Miami Dolphins led by former Patriots’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores are looking towards the future. They’ve already cut ties with their once franchise quarterback Ryan Tannehill. That move sparked speculation on who the Dolphins would pick to be their quarterback for the 2019 season.
A name that was mentioned frequently linked to Miami was former Browns starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The former Bills and Browns quarterback had his starting spot stolen from him by rookie Baker Mayfield. Now on the open market, he was seen as a great stop-gap player for the Dolphins. Taylor would have filled in nicely on a short term deal while either a rookie or a 2020 draft pick works into the starting spot. Taylor instead spurned the Dolphins to go be the back-up for the Chargers and have Miami scrambling for a signal caller.
The question has to be; what is next for the Dolphins quarterback position?
Right now the best available free agent quarterback left on the market is Teddy Bridgewater, who is in Miami for a visit on Wednesday night. Bridgewater, 26, hasn’t played a meaningful game in three seasons after a crushing leg injury.
Another option would be to wait for the Jacksonville Jaguars to release Blake Bortles. The former first round pick has experience, should come cheap and adds an element in the running game with his legs. However, Bortles is the most turnover-prone quarterback on the market.
The final option would be the draft. Miami currently has the 13th pick in the first round. Getting into a territory to select one of the draft’s top three quarterbacks would require a significant investment of draft capital. It is assumed that Kyler Murray is going first. The other two top quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock figure to fall inside the top ten. Miami essentially needs to get into the eighth spot of higher to secure Lock in front of the Broncos. If they hold steady they’re likely looking at Duke’s Daniel Jones.
Options are bleak. Miami fans should not be happy about losing out on Taylor. The people in charge better have a plan. We just have not seen it yet.