The Miami Dolphins find themselves in a frustrating holding pattern as they await Tua Tagovailoa’s return, and they are facing criticism for their drafting choices. General Manager Chris Grier is often praised for his bold trades to acquire top talent, but the effectiveness of his draft decisions is under scrutiny.
In 2020, Grier selected Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, and Noah Igbinoghene in the first round. While there are ongoing discussions about Tagovailoa’s performance, Jackson is seen as serviceable but not elite, and Igbinoghene is regarded as a bust.
Miami has a history of poor draft outcomes, and this year, seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson has been added to that list. Although seventh-round picks are not typically expected to make a significant impact on an NFL roster, it is becoming more common to find success stories like Brock Purdy—whom the Dolphins overlooked in favor of drafting Thompson.
Dolphins will stick with Tyler Huntley after the bye week, says Mike McDaniel
Tyler Huntley will be the starter for the Miami Dolphins when they return from their bye week, as Coach Mike McDaniel has decided to stick with him based on his progress from the first to the second game. Skylar Thompson is nearly 100% and will serve as the backup.
After three years of development within McDaniel’s system, Thompson is losing his job to a player who has only been with the team for three weeks. This raises the question of why Thompson was considered the backup plan at the start of the season. The Dolphins must have anticipated the challenges that could arise if they had to rely on him, yet they quickly moved on from him. This is an issue that needs addressing in the offseason.
Did the Dolphins fail to properly develop Thompson? Was he always destined to be nothing more than an emergency third-string quarterback? Huntley isn’t exactly a standout quarterback that Miami just happened to discover.
Thompson’s future with the Dolphins likely needs to end after the 2024 season. He doesn’t require another year or more time; he simply needs a fresh start with a new team.
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