After reaching the playoffs in each of Mike McDaniel’s first two seasons in charge, the Dolphins struggled in his third season, going 8-9 and missing out on the postseason in 2024.

Except for taking a flier on Skylar Thompson in the seventh round, the Dolphins have bypassed drafting a quarterback during the Tua Tagovailoa era, even though such a move would have offered potential protection — and another option — if Tagovailoa’s career were to be derailed by concussions or injuries, or if he simply regresses.