PALM BEACH — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel made clear quarterback Zach Wilson was the team’s top choice for Tua Tagovailoa’s backup in free agency.
Many expected the Dolphins would prioritize pursuit of an experienced veteran backup for Tagovailoa, who missed six games last season. But signing Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft who failed with the New York Jets, was a surprise.
“It’s an inexact science, but we felt he was the best option for us,” McDaniel said at the NFL annual meeting Monday morning at The Breakers. “He was a direct, calculated target. We thought that was a way the Miami Dolphins could get better and are excited to see how he seizes that opportunity.”
Wilson has the raw tools with his arm talent and mobility. Those are some of the things that made him the second pick of his draft, but he was done in New York after three subpar seasons, the last of which saw the Jets bring in Aaron Rodgers to supplant him, and then didn’t play last regular season as a backup for the Denver Broncos.
Now, the Dolphins season won’t be in the hands of a proven veteran if Tagovailoa were to miss time, but a project in a still-young Wilson, 25.
McDaniel was offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers the year Wilson was drafted and was well-versed in that quarterback class. The 49ers chose Trey Lance with the ensuing selection. He sees the upside to developing Wilson.
“He was a phenomenal talent that, in my opinion, didn’t have reps in an NFL pocket yet,” McDaniel said. “At BYU, he was launching it from 10 or 11 yards deep, and you’re not in the phone booth yet.
“In my estimation, there was going to be some nuanced growth to his game that I think it is close to impossible to excel that early in that new form of football that he was playing.”
McDaniel also understands the heavy pressure that came with his role on the Jets.
“That’s powerful to me in that there’s very few people who know what it’s like to be drafted high in New York City,” McDaniel said, “and so then to see his resolve, to see where he’s digested the whole situation — it’s like anything for all of us. If you have adversity in your life, that can be a source of strength and growth or it can be a source of that’s what defines you and you can’t get over that.
“What I see in Zach is the experience of being the second pick in the draft, being the starter Week 1 and then not fulfilling the rookie contract, that is behind him. To me, that’s an exciting prospect because you can’t put a measurement on that human ability that is huge at the quarterback position.”
McDaniel can also fall back on his success transforming Tagovailoa’s play when he took over at the helm in Miami in 2022.
“Not comparing the players at all,” McDaniel made clear to specify, “Tua found that this environment helped him through that process. As coaches, we want to offer everything to his game, and I’m excited about where he’s at based upon him.”
Last season, the Dolphins had Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle all take reps at quarterback when Tagovailoa missed time. Mike White was released before the 2024 season after losing preseason competition to Thompson.
Miami needed an upgrade for the role heading into the 2025 season, and the team can still select another young quarterback in the draft.