In a shocking move, the Miami Dolphins made a decisive choice in their backup quarterback competition by releasing seasoned veteran Mike White and promoting young gun Skylar Thompson to the role of QB2 behind Tua Tagovailoa.
Thompson, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft, showed promise in his limited playing time last season when he was called upon to start three games due to Tagovailoa’s concussions. Despite spending the entirety of the previous season on the bench while White took over the backup duties, Thompson’s growth and improvement during training camp caught the attention of head coach Mike McDaniel.
“I see a better quarterback now than I did at the beginning of camp, than last year and the year before . . . I see teammates believe in him,” McDaniel shared with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “How do you respond to adversity, and how do you make a play when one isn’t there. I wasn’t surprised by what I saw from Skylar. . . . We don’t need an experienced guy. We can go with a guy who has a high ceiling. I think this particular QB room we can go with a young guy, an old guy or just a good guy.”
With Tagovailoa shouldering the responsibilities of the starting quarterback, the Dolphins are hopeful that he can stay healthy and active throughout the upcoming season. However, with Thompson now solidified as the backup, McDaniel has expressed confidence in the young quarterback’s ability to step up and perform if called upon.
The dynamic at the quarterback position for the Dolphins has certainly shifted, with Thompson’s ascent underscoring the team’s faith in his potential and readiness to take on a more prominent role within the squad. Only time will tell if Thompson’s growth and skill set will translate to success on the field, but for now, the Dolphins appear to be content with their decision to trust in the future and embrace the youth movement at the quarterback position.