Dolphins Notes: Rosen, Howard, Draft

If Josh Rosen ever wants to start for the Dolphins again, he’ll have to satisfy the conditions of coach Brian Flores‘ list, as Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. What’s on the list? Apparently, only Flores and the QB know the answer.

I’ve given him that list, for sure,” Flores said Wednesday. “I’m not giving you that list.”

Salguero, speculatively, wonders if Flores is looking for more personality or leadership from Rosen. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will play ahead of the former No. 10 overall pick pick for the rest of the season, has both in spades. Fitzpatrick, who was asked a general question about camaraderie, agrees on the importance of the intangibles.

I just think simple things like sitting in the meal room and eating lunch with guys and getting to know guys, something as simple and as silly as that goes such a long way,” Fitzpatrick said. “In my mind, I’m not like ‘Oh, I’m going to sit with Dan Kilgore today because I want him to block better for me.’ That’s not it.

I think a lot of it is understanding that you’re part of a team and understanding that no one position is better than any other, that we’re all important and we all have to work together, and it’s such a great team sport to get on the same page to succeed. I think knowing guys personally and getting to know them on that level goes a long way towards chemistry and transferring it onto the field. That’s something I’ve just always placed an importance on.”

Rosen, 23 in February, has two years remaining on his original rookie deal, each with modest cap hits.

Here’s more from Miami:

  • Cornerback Xavien Howard had knee surgery a “couple of days” ago, Flores announced (Twitter link via Salguero). That’s at least the third knee surgery Howard has had with the Dolphins (both left and right) and potentially a bad sign for the young star going forward. Howard inked a five-year, $72.25MM extension with the Dolphins in May and landed on season-ending IR in late October.
  • In the 2020 draft, Flores says the Dolphins won’t shy away from players who come from a different scheme. “If it’s a good player, the scheme is a scheme versatile defense,” Flores said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “If we have a good player, we’ll fit – we’ll make it work for set player. That goes at any position; we got a good coaching staff, a lot of creative minds here. We try to put our players in position to make plays. If Lawrence Taylor is available, we would fit the scheme for him; we would do it.” The 3-11 Dolphins are currently slated to pick No. 3 overall. Then, they’ll have two more selections via the Steelers and Texans late in the draft. Those picks are currently projected to fall at Nos. 22 and 23.
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