Quinn Ewers

Dolphins Could Bench QB Tua Tagovailoa; Latest On HC Mike McDaniel

November 2nd, 2025 at 11:15pm CST by Rory Parks

The 2-7 Dolphins have parted ways with longtime general manager Chris Grier and are already looking ahead to next season. As part of their evaluation process, the ‘Fins could consider benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link).

There were rumblings to that effect last month, but Tagovailoa responded with his best outing of the season in a 34-10 win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, he submitted a mediocre performance in Thursday night’s loss to the Ravens, and it now appears a demotion is on the table, with Rapoport saying the southpaw is “playing to keep his job.”

Following Grier’s departure, head coach Mike McDaniel – who was considered the savior of Tagovailoa’s career not too long ago – was said to be safe through at least the end of the 2025 campaign. Subsequent reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) and Rapoport echo the notion that owner Stephen Ross still believes in McDaniel and wants him on the sidelines for the long haul.

But Tagovailoa almost certainly represents McDaniel’s best chance to keep his job. After all, the other passers on the roster are Zach Wilson – one of the biggest draft busts in recent history – and seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. Rapoport describes Ewers as “impressive,” but after briefly overtaking Wilson for Miami’s QB2 role, the Texas product has been relegated back to the third position on the depth chart.

There could be some value in seeing what Ewers has to offer, though it would be hard for an outsider to see the same value in having Wilson take the reins. Still, if Tagovailoa keeps throwing interceptions – he presently leads the league with 11 picks – it appears McDaniel could consider a switch (if that does happen, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald suggests McDaniel should make sure Ross would not hold any ensuing offensive struggles against him).

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, meanwhile, believes the Dolphins are likely to part ways with McDaniel at season’s end. In Florio’s estimation, Tagovailoa’s contract situation – he is due $54MM in guaranteed money in 2026 – could make the Miami HC post less attractive to top coaching candidates, unless the Dolphins perform poorly enough to assure themselves of one of the top QB prospects in next year’s draft class.

Rapoport suggests the most viable option for the Dolphins with respect to Tagovailoa is to pay down some of the money he is owed in order to facilitate an offseason trade to a club with a need for a bridge passer. A pre-June 1 release is impossible due to the dead money hit it would generate, and even a post-June 1 release would be problematic from a cap standpoint. Of course, Miami could simply keep Tagovailoa as its starter (or possible bridge) and hope he can return to the form that earned him his $53.1MM/year deal in the first place.

Dolphins Reinstall Zach Wilson As QB2

October 30th, 2025 at 1:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tua Tagovailoa‘s performance has been a bigger issue than usual health concerns this season, as the Dolphins are 2-6 and headed toward the trade deadline as a potential seller. The team’s standing has naturally invited speculation about Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier‘s Miami futures.

Fortunately for the team, Tagovailoa has stayed healthy this season. Concussion concerns engulfed the quarterback (and the Dolphins as a whole) in 2022 and ’24, and another hip injury cropped up at the end of last season. Tua’s health history made the Dolphins’ QB2 role rather important, highlighting a curious choice Grier and McDaniel made in the offseason.

On Day 1 of the legal tampering period, Miami signed Zach Wilson to a fully guaranteed one-year, $6MM deal. This came after the Broncos buried the former No. 2 overall pick as their third-stringer throughout the 2024 season. Wilson faceplanted as the Jets’ starter, being benched three times from 2022-23. Wilson also lost his Dolphins backup job to rookie Quinn Ewers last week.

Heading into tonight’s game, however, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes Wilson will be the Dolphins’ top backup once again. An ongoing practice competition led McDaniel to demote Wilson previously for Ewers, but the team has flipflopped on that change ahead of Week 9. Though, Wolfe does not make it sound like Ewers will not have another chance to climb the depth chart this season.

Wilson has yoyoed around depth charts since a November 2022 Jets benching. He has started, dropped to third string, climbed back to the QB2 level, started for the Jets again and spent a full season back at QB3 in Denver. The Broncos viewed Jarrett Stidham as a better backup for Bo Nix last season, after Wilson had participated in a three-man starter competition. Denver re-signed Stidham (two years, $12MM) shortly before free agency, leading Wilson elsewhere. Wilson has completed 6 of 9 passes in reserve duty this season.

Considering the consequences the Jets faced for not backstopping Aaron Rodgers with a more reliable option in 2023, the Dolphins showing faith in Wilson behind one of the league’s most injury-prone QBs injected considerable risk into the equation. But the Wilson signing — for more guaranteed money than fellow 2021 first-rounders Mac Jones or Trey Lance received in free agency — showed the former top prospect still has believers around the league. That makes Ewers’ short-lived ascent more interesting, even though McDaniel said part of the reason the rookie usurped Wilson was opponent-driven. Wilson losing his job for any reason is obviously notable given his career trajectory.

Arch Manning‘s Texas predecessor was viewed as a candidate to go as high as Day 2, but he tumbled to Round 7. The three-year Longhorns starter who twice quarterbacked his team into the CFP semifinals, Ewers received his first NFL game work in Week 7. He went 5-for-8 in the Dolphins’ loss to the Browns. With Ewers profiling as a potential long-term Tagovailoa backup, it proved notable he was given an early chance to overtake Wilson — rather than learn in a true redshirt year. It will be interesting to see if the Dolphins make another switch, which would drop Wilson’s stock further ahead of another free agency try for the BYU product.

No Dolphins Firings Imminent; Tua Tagovailoa To Remain Starting QB

October 21st, 2025 at 8:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

After their lopsided Week 7 loss, the Dolphins were once again the focus of speculation about major changes taking place. For now, though, the status quo remains.

No changes on the coaching staff or in the front office are currently expected, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Head coach Mike McDaniel‘s job security has been a talking point all season, but on multiple occasions he has been viewed as being safe from a firing. The same holds true for general manager Chris Grier despite Miami’s 1-6 record and continued regression dating back to last season.

As improvement is sought out throughout the organization, changes on the depth chart will be something to watch for. McDaniel said yesterday that “everything is on the table” in that regard, which led to questions about even a move as noteworthy as benching Tua Tagovailoa taking place. At least for now, that will not be the case. McDaniel later confirmed Tagovailoa will remain atop the depth chart.

That comes as little surprise given the Dolphins’ investment in this case. Tagovailoa is under contract through 2028, and he is already owed $54MM in guarantees for next year. The 27-year-old’s best seasons have come under McDaniel, but even without any injury concerns he has not been able to consistently perform at a high level in 2025. Tagovailoa has thrown at least one interception in five of his seven games this year, and limiting turnovers will be key if the Dolphins are to rebound in the second half of the campaign.

McDaniel added (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) he and Tagovailoa engaged in “direct communication” about Sunday’s loss to the Browns yesterday while breaking down film together. He added that is a process which has already been repeated on multiple occasions in 2025. Needless to say, things have not gone according to plan in terms of performance at the quarterback spot this season, leading to speculation about a potential change in the depth chart.

As for the backup gig, seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers saw time late in Week 7 after he overtook Zach Wilson for the QB2 role days earlier. McDaniel said (via Louis-Jacques) an open competition will take place this week for the backup spot, adding he hopes that will not become a regular occurrence. Wilson was traded by the Jets to the Broncos last spring; after not seeing any playing time in Denver, the former No. 2 pick returned to the AFC East in free agency by signing with Miami.

Neither Ewers nor Wilson will be expected to play in Week 8 barring any injuries on Tagovailoa’s part. In any case, the quarterback position will be one to watch closely as McDaniel and Co. continue their efforts to avoid a continuation of the Dolphins’ unwanted start to the campaign.

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel: Personnel Changes Being Considered

October 20th, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

The matter of potential coaching changes in Miami has been a talking point throughout the 2025 season. Questions about in-season firings will continue over the coming days after the team’s 31-6 loss against the Browns in Week 7.

For now, at least, Mike McDaniel remains in place as head coach. When speaking after Sunday’s “humbling” defeat, he said consideration will be given to personnel changes. It is unclear which positions could be affected by a shuffling of the depth chart, but this situation could be one to monitor closely.

“If you are negatively impacting the team routinely, I have no choice but to assess a different player,” McDaniel said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “I have to coach a lot better as well. We will find out who and what we’re made of… We will change our style of play if we have to. Everything is on the table.”

The comment about playing style is certainly notable, considering the criticism Miami has received during McDaniel’s tenure. The Dolphins have struggled to consistently find success against stronger opponents, and much of that has been attributed to the team’s approach on offense in particular. That unit has struggled in 2025, and the Dolphins sit 25th in the NFL with an average of just 20 points per game.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s day came to an early end with the game out of reach on Sunday. His 24.1 passer rating was the lowest of his career, and it marked another poor outing in a season during which he has struggled with turnovers. Tagovailoa has thrown a league-leading 10 interceptions in 2025, and McDaniel said one or two of his three picks from Sunday were “preventable.”

Leading up to yesterday’s loss, Tagovailoa was the center of attention based on his public criticism of teammates from the previous week. The 27-year-old is already owed $54MM in guarantees for next season, so any parting of ways would not be feasible even if it were to be entertained by the Dolphins. Based on McDaniel’s comments, though, it will be interesting to see how the quarterback depth chart is handled moving forward.

On that note, rookie Quinn Ewers saw his first regular season action in the NFL on Sunday after taking over for Tagovailoa. The seventh-rounder overtook Zach Wilson for the QB2 role in Week 7, something McDaniel said was due to the outcome of practice in the preceding days and something which was specific to the opponent. As further alterations are considered in the near future, the backup quarterback position could soon see more changes along with many others.

Dolphins Sign First-Round DT Kenneth Grant, Six Others

May 9th, 2025 at 8:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Many teams around the NFL are busy inking draft picks to their rookie deals. In the case of the Dolphins, that includes their top selection now being on the books.

Kenneth Grant has signed his rookie deal, the team announced on Friday. The defensive tackle was one of several prospects at his position seen as a strong candidate to hear his name called during the first round. While it therefore came as little surprise he came off the board on Day 1, the No. 13 draft slot was seen by many as a slight reach.

Grant spent each of his three college seasons at Michigan, handling a notable role along the defensive interior alongside Mason Graham. Those two were both key contributors in the Wolverines’ national title in 2023 and they remained impactful players last year. Whereas Graham showcased plenty of potential against the pass, though, Grant has not developed as much in that area. Still, the latter will be counted on to be an impactful producer on early downs as he transitions to the pro game.

In 2024 – their first season following Christian Wilkins‘ free agent departure – the Dolphins ranked ninth against the run. That level of success is a testament in part to the team’s D-line, a unit which lost Calais Campbell this spring. Grant will compete for snaps alongside Zach Sieler and Benito Jones; Miami had Neil Farrell in the fold until yesterday, when he was among the veterans cut in anticipation of rookie minicamp beginning.

Now, Grant will join fellow rookies Jordan Phillips (fifth round, Maryland) and Zeek Biggers (seventh round, Georgia Tech) in vying for playing time along the defensive line. Both Phillips and Biggers have signed their respective four-year contracts. The same is also true of fifth-round cornerback Jason Marshall (Florida), fifth-round safety Dante Trader (Maryland), sixth-round running back Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State) and seventh-round quarterback Quinn Ewers (Texas).

As a result, seven of the team’s eight draftees are on the books at this point. The lone exception is Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea, whom the Dolphins traded up to select in the second round.

Quinn Ewers’ Agent Explains Draft Slide

May 5th, 2025 at 5:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Quinn Ewers didn’t do enough during the 2024 campaign to warrant being one of the first quarterbacks off the draft board. Still, it was a surprise when the Texas signal caller slid all the way to the seventh round, and he was ultimately the final QB taken when he was selected by the Dolphins at No. 231.

There was some initial speculation about Ewers’ fall down the draft board. His lack of ball protection (12 interceptions, 10 fumbles in 2024) was assumed to be the main culprit, but there were also scouts who criticized his lack of mobility and struggles under pressure.

His agent has since provided another reason. Ron Slavin said he reached out to a number of teams to understand why Ewers fell all the way to the seventh round. Many of those teams acknowledged that they rated the Longhorns quarterback higher than a seventh-round pick, but they were wary of the attention he’d draw as a backup.

“They thought he was a third- or fourth-round pick, but too big of a name to be a clipboard holder,” Slavin told ESPN’s Todd Archer. “Which I think is chickens—.”

In a draft where Shedeur Sanders also fell due to concerns about any impending distractions, it’s not a surprise that some pundits are starting to point fingers at the “NIL era.” That includes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, who believes endorsements and the accompanying attention will make “it awkward” for players (especially QBs) to suddenly sit on the bench.

Ironically, Ewers landed in a spot that could eventually lead to some QB controversy. Tua Tagovailoa has had his fair share of concussion and injury issues, putting Miami’s backups into the spotlight. After shuffling through a handful of names last season, the Dolphins landed on Zach Wilson as their QB2 for the 2025 campaign. If Tagovailoa went down, Wilson would surely get the first shot at the starting gig, but his spotty track record could open the door for Ewers.

For what it’s worth, the rookie QB isn’t letting his unexpected draft slide impact his perspective. While he admitted that he was surprised to fall to the seventh round, he was still relieved to hear his name called during draft weekend.

“I just didn’t know what was going on,” Ewers said. “But, I mean, it was nice [to get drafted], because at one point I’m like, ‘I’m not even going to get drafted. I’m going to go undrafted.’

“It was very unexpected, and I think that the toughest part about it is just the amount of unexpected occurrences there were. But I’m glad that I ended up where I ended up. To go as late as I did, I’m glad it’s a good spot.”

Dolphins Draft QB Quinn Ewers At No. 231

April 26th, 2025 at 5:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The seventh round continues to include quarterbacks coming off the board. Texas product Quinn Ewers has been selected by the Dolphins at No. 231 overall.

Ewers was among the passers facing the high expectations entering the 2024 campaign. The Longhorns succeeded as a team, reaching the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Individually, though, Ewers struggled to remain healthy and did not produce as hoped. That hindered his draft stock but the fact he remained on the board this late into Saturday still comes as something of a surprise.

Ewers shows a lot of traits that have become popular in NFL quarterbacks of late, boasting a quick release and the ability to throw out of multiple arm slots. He has excellent ball placement on short and intermediate throws and uses his eyes well to throw defenders. He also displayed an interesting intangible by delivering some of his most impressive performances in raucous road environments.

A lack of mobility likely hurt Ewers’ draft stock. He’s not much of a threat to run and, when rushed out of his spot, can struggle to see the field when scrambling. Ewers also struggled to protect the ball at times, throwing 12 interceptions and fumbling the ball 10 times in 2024; in three years as a starter for the Longhorns, he threw 24 picks and had 20 fumbles.

The Dolphins were certainly in need of a QB3. They currently roster only starter Tua Tagovailoa and backup Zach Wilson. Ewers isn’t likely to challenge Wilson for the QB2 role, but with Tagovailoa’s frequent injury history, it makes sense to add a potential impact passer behind Wilson. Wilson has also struggled in a starting role in the past, so Ewers is actually in a decent position to see time as a starter relatively soon in his career.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Latest On Raiders’ Draft Plans; Team Open To Trading Aidan O’Connell?

April 23rd, 2025 at 3:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders’ Geno Smith acquisition and extension all but certainly takes them out of the QB mix at No. 6 overall. But they are still being mentioned as a team interested in addressing the position later.

Jalen Milroe came up as a Raiders target early in the pre-draft process, and now that a Smith extension is worked out, a long runway could be in place for a player deemed a raw prospect with a high ceiling. The Raiders remain on the Milroe radar, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. An early-second-round selection could be how Milroe’s draft process ends, though some execs informed Fowler the athletic Alabama option could land as a late-first-round choice.

That would require a trade-up from the Raiders, and we have certainly heard plenty about trade-ups for passers in this year’s draft. A frenzy could develop after the Browns and Giants — as they are expected to — choose Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter at Nos. 2 and 3. The Saints and Steelers have joined those teams as those doing extensive work on QBs, but the Rams, Raiders and Dolphins join them in being candidates to add one. Based on the volume — in a draft that has brought tremendous scrutiny on its non-Cam Ward options — multiple teams will be left out of this draft’s second tier at the position.

The Raiders, however, are still interested in Texas’ Quinn Ewers as well. Connected to the Texas starter earlier this offseason, Las Vegas has also done work on national championship-winning Ohio State QB Will Howard, Fowler adds. But they are higher on Ewers than Howard, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. slots Howard 105th and Ewers 111th in this class. By opting for this tier of QB, the Raiders could aim higher with their earlier-round choices, as they attempt to help a now-Smith-centered roster.

A Milroe move would obviously negate an Ewers investment, but either would be unlikely to seriously threaten Smith’s job security in 2025. Smith’s team-friendly contract gives the Raiders time to evaluate QBs, as this could be a multi-draft project. The Raiders having acquired Smith rather than take their chances with these free agency and draft crops is rather telling, as it would certainly be interesting to see them make that move and then dive back into Round 1 for Milroe. The Raiders’ second-round pick checks in at No. 37 overall.

At No. 6, the team has been closely tied to Ashton Jeanty. Smokescreen season notwithstanding, it would be rather surprising if Jeanty made it past Vegas at 6. The Jaguars have now been connected to choosing the Heisman runner-up at 5, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds some strong cases for an O-line add have been made within the organization. We heard recently the Raiders would target an O-lineman at No. 6, but that appeared contingent on Jeanty being off the board. Russini’s assessment points to the team considering going O-line over the ex-Boise State dynamo.

If the Raiders are to go O-line at No. 6, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur offers that the team is believed to like Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. more than Mizzou’s Armand Membou. Seeing a wide gap form between the SEC blockers’ prospect values, Banks looks to gained steam as the draft nears. The prospect of Ewers’ LT going in the top 10 appears in play, as Banks has also been connected to the Jets at 7. Membou would not stand to fall too far if Banks goes ahead of him, even with some teams viewing the college RT as a guard going forward.

The Raiders’ QB plans may well impact Aidan O’Connell. Closing both his two NFL seasons as the Raiders’ starter, the former fourth-round pick has come up as a trade candidate during this year’s draft, per Russini. The Raiders pitted O’Connell in a competition with Gardner Minshew last year, and while the younger passer lost, he was frequently called upon as Antonio Pierce benched Minshew. The latter’s season-ending injury moved O’Connell back into a starter role. He is 7-10 as a starter in two seasons, which is fairly impressive considering the rosters the Raiders trotted out in that time.

Two years remain on O’Connell’s rookie contract. The Raiders moving O’Connell would likely come after they have added another backup option, as only 2024 UDFA Carter Bradley is rostered beyond Smith at the position.

Tyler Shough Visits Giants, To Meet With Raiders; Las Vegas-Quinn Ewers Buzz Persists

April 11th, 2025 at 12:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders’ Geno Smith trade and subsequent extension provides time for the team to determine a long-term solution at the game’s premier position. Smith and Pete Carroll‘s contractual timelines match up, and the Raiders have the luxury of steering clear of a maligned quarterback draft class.

The potential for the team to make its big move down the line has not deterred research into this year’s class. On that note, the team’s pre-draft process will include a “30” visit with Louisville prospect Tyler Shough, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Shough has already met with the Browns, and a Seahawks meeting is on tap. The Giants also met with the well-traveled passer this week, Schefter adds.

An Oregon recruit (well after Chip Kelly‘s Eugene exit), Shough migrated to Texas Tech and then Louisville during a seven-year college career made possible by relaxed transfer and eligibility rules. Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix‘s strong rookie-year showings highlighted the importance of college experience at quarterback while minimizing age concerns. Shough came into college earlier than both Nix and Daniels, debuting in 2018. A seven-year career probably does bring concerns for some teams, but clubs are still taking the time to find out information about one of this year’s better QB prospects.

Beyond Shough, Raiders Quinn Ewers research has continued to produce connections. We heard Las Vegas tied to the Texas starter in early March, and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline confirms those persist between Ewers and the AFC West club. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Shough fourth and Ewers sixth among this draft’s QBs. The Saints have also been closely tied to Ewers, who profiles as a likely Day 2 pick.

Although Giants-Shedeur Sanders buzz has emerged, it has died down in recent days. The two-year Colorado starter no longer looks like a safe bet to land in the top five, where some QB-needy teams await. The Giants have made some insurance moves by signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and the Browns brought back Joe Flacco earlier Friday. Assuming the Titans take Cam Ward to open the draft, the Giants will have either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter on the board. This would represent a best-case scenario for Big Blue, though it would still leave a glaring hole at a position that has largely sunk the team post-Eli Manning.

Circling back to a player like Shough would be a dice roll for a Giants regime on the hot seat, but Wilson does provide some cover for 2025. New York holds one second-round pick and two third-rounders in this draft, providing a potential opportunity for the team to bring in a developmental QB.

Raiders Arrange Visits With Shedeur Sanders, Will Campbell, Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger

April 10th, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

Set to select sixth overall, the Raiders find themselves in an interesting position as the countdown to the draft continues. The team could go in several different directions, and a number of first-round options are being examined through pre-draft visits.

Vegas lined up a large number of top-30 visits yesterday, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the group included LSU tackle Will Campbell and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Both prospects are viewed in the tier below presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward and the highly-regarded duo of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Depending on how the Patriots and Jaguars operate with the fourth and fifth selections, though, neither Campbell nor Graham may be available once Vegas is on the clock.

The Raiders’ work also included their previously-reported visit with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up has frequently been mentioned as a logical fit for Vegas given the team’s struggles on the ground last season and resultant need to find a long-term Josh Jacobs successor. Selecting Campbell or Graham instead would leave a vacancy in the backfield (at least until later in the draft), but it would help shore up the line of scrimmage for a team looking to rebound from a 4-13 season.

A large part of that effort has been the acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith. The trade sending him to the Raiders was recently followed by a two-year extension putting him on the books through 2027, but the team is still interested in exploring rookie signal-callers. Among those with a visit planned is Shedeur Sanders, per Breer. The Colorado passer’s Vegas meeting will take place on Monday, he adds.

Vegas has previously been connected to Sanders, whose stock remains a key talking point in advance of the draft. A fall out of the first round is not expected, but the strength of prospects at other positions for teams not immediately in need of a signal-caller could lead them in another direction. Still, the Browns and Giants have been linked to Sanders interest, and his visit with the Steelers (set to select 21st overall) today illustrates the extent of his list of suitors.

Sanders is not the only QB prospect being looked into. As Breer notes, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard were present yesterday, along with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Those three passers face a wide range of draft outcomes, but Dart has gained steam for first-round consideration. Ewers and Howard are more logical targets if Vegas – now led by head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and (to a notable extent) minority owner Tom Brady – plans to wait until after Day 1 to add a quarterback .

Also present for Wednesday’s prospect summit was Carson Schwesinger, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. The UCLA product is seen as one of the top linebackers in the 2025 class, and he is slated to hear his name called sometime in the second round. Vegas owns pick No. 37, which could be used on Schwesinger based in part on how yesterday’s visit went. With respect to the team’s top selection, though, several options are on the table and are receiving consideration.

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