There have been several rumors about who could be starting at the quarterback position for the Miami Dolphins come next season. While many pundits say that a player like Malik Willis could be on the table, there have been reports of vocal support for the Dolphins’ seventh round selection in last year’s draft.
With a new staff, there could be general consensus that wholesale changes could take effect. The Dolphins have already begun to see some, as Tyreek Hill was just released and constant rumors about several key players leaving are heightening. Still, for the most part, it seems that the Fins’ new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was impressed from what he saw from Quinn Ewers at the end of the season.
Ewers Emerging as a Cost-Effective Favorite
According to Essentially Sport’s Tony Pauline, the Dolphins could be just fine rolling into next season with Ewers installed as the starter: “Bobby Slowik, who was elevated from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator, is a big fan of Quinn Ewers, who did a solid job starting in place of Tagovailoa during the final three games of the season,” Pauline wrote. “If the Dolphins can’t afford to bring in a coveted veteran, a source tells me the likely plan includes using Ewers as the starter in 2026 and signing an inexpensive backup, such as Jimmy Garoppolo.”
Quinn Ewers was once viewed as a potential first round draft pick throughout his college career at the University of Texas. However, due to several injuries and concern about his skill set, he dropped all the way to the seventh round in last year’s draft, with the Dolphins selecting him 231st overall.
The Dolphins also had Zach Wilson, a former No. 2 overall pick, on their roster, but when they decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa, Ewers got the nod to replace him. In three starts, he turned in a somewhat decent stat line, with a 66.3 percent completion rate, 622 yards passing, and 3 touchdowns.
Financial Reality Could Shape Miami’s QB Plan
Considering the challenges the Dolphins face with the status of Tua’s situation up in the air, Ewers is looking ever closer to getting a serious run at the starting job next year. Tua is set to potentially leave the Dolphins with a 99 million dollar cap hit, leaving them little financial room to maneuver. As a result, they may be able to acquire a high level starter, let alone backup.
That paves the way for a scenario where the Dolphins bring in someone on the cheap, such as Jimmy Garoppolo, and see what Ewers is made of. After all, he was one of the most highly regarded high school recruits in history. Perhaps the Dolphins could have another Brock Purdy on their hands.
Another way to look at things from a fan perspective is that this could be the best possible path for the Dolphins to potentially tank for Arch. Why not let it be in the hands of the former Texas superstar QB to decide whether or not another one takes the reins in Miami in 2027?
No matter what, Dolphins fans should stay alert for any updates about the QB situation.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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