Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel will be collaborating with a new quarterback in the 2025 NFL season as the Miami Dolphins have acquired Zach Wilson through free agency. Tua Tagovailoa is receiving full backing from both the Dolphins and McDaniel as they approach the 2025 NFL campaign.
His new understudy, Zach Wilson, is also providing the starting quarterback with reasons to be hopeful. At 25, Wilson, who signed with the Dolphins after spending the previous season with the Denver Broncos, appears eager to be in Miami.
He has assured Tagovailoa and McDaniel that he’ll be an ideal candidate for the role. “I believe it’s going to align perfectly with what I’m seeking, the style of offense, and the wealth of knowledge I’ll gain from these guys,” Wilson stated, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “I think a better match couldn’t have been found.” Wilson, who will celebrate his 26th birthday in November, is a compelling addition for the Dolphins, who require a dependable backup should anything happen to Tagovailoa again.
Given Tua’s history with injuries, the role of QB2 holds significant importance in South Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide alumnus, who sustained a severe knee injury in college, has battled concussions throughout his NFL tenure. After a healthy 2023 season, the issues that plagued him in 2022 resurfaced in 2024. A frightening head injury in a Week 2 defeat to the Buffalo Bills forced Tagovailoa to miss four games early in the season.
He managed to return from injured reserve after passing the concussion protocol, but a hip injury sidelined him for an additional two games. McDaniel and the Dolphins aim to prevent last year’s oversight, which highlighted the Dolphins’ lack of a safety net behind Tua in 2024, as neither Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, nor Tyler Huntley proved to be reliable options for McDaniel.
Miami is determined not to repeat last year’s error, hoping that Wilson will evolve into a trustworthy choice in the QB lineup. Although acquiring a seasoned player might also have been logical, the Fins get in Wilson a young quarterback with potential for growth. A promising opportunity for Wilson, a second-round selection from BYU in the 2021 NFL Draft, who fell short of expectations during his three-year period with the New York Jets, achieving a 12-21 record as the starting quarterback.
In 33 games, Wilson completed 57% of his passes for 6,293 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Last season, he played behind Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham in Denver. Consequently, the chance to have only Tagovailoa ahead of him on the Dolphins’ depth chart might be precisely what he needs to revive his NFL career. Wilson exudes confidence, but only time will reveal if he validates Miami’s choice.
