Zach Wilson is now Miami’s QB2, but is it enough to overcome Tua Tagovailoa’s inevitable injuries? Let’s check out the tape! #FinsUp
For two consecutive seasons, I frantically wrote up my thoughts on the players I’d like to see the Miami Dolphins sign most in free agency. And for the second straight year, a young gunslinger named Zach Wilson made my list — which is hypocritical, considering this is the same Zach Wilson that I made jokes about on social media and trolled the New York Jets fanbase for selecting over Justin Fields. (Jokes on me, I guess)
Nevertheless, he’s now an uber-important part of our favorite team — given Tua Tagovailoa’s long history of injuries and inability to stay healthy — whether we like it or not. “The Bad” may be all you remember about Wilson, but the Dolphins see ‘untapped potential.’
The question many are wondering, though, is whether or not there is something worth building upon. Even more important, is whether or not he can win a football game or two or three when Tua does go down.
Let’s take a look at what the 2023 film says.
Before we dive into the tape, let’s remember::::
What the scouts were saying about Zach Wilson pre-draft!
Lance Zierlein: Ascending quarterback prospect who possesses the swagger and arm talent to create explosive plays inside and outside the pocket. The gunslinger’s mentality and improvised release points are clearly patterned off of one of his favorite players, Aaron Rodgers. However, his play is a little more reminiscent of a blend between Jake Plummer and Johnny Manziel coming out of college. As with Manziel, too much of Wilson’s work comes off-schedule due to inconsistent anticipation and a desire to hit the big play. But like both Manziel (at Texas A&M) and Plummer, he’s mobile with the ability to extend plays and hit the chunk play. Wilson’s sophomore year tape shows troubling decision-making, so NFL teams will need to balance his 2019 and 2020 production in the evaluation process. He’s put in a lot of work to get to this point and has the potential to become a good pro. However, he might need to play with a more disciplined approach to reach his ceiling.
How does Zach Wilson fit with the Dolphins?
For those of us who may have thought Miami would bring in a more experienced veteran to back up Tua Tagovailoa, we may have been wrong. As of now, it seems like Wilson is the Dolphins QB2 despite his 12-21 career record. The last time he saw any regular season action was in 2023, when he started 11 games for the Jets, completing 60.1% of his passes for 2271 yards, 8 TDs, and 7 INTs.
He’s now THE guy to backup Tua, which likely means he’ll play at least a game or two throughout the upcoming season. I’m not sure that necessarily instills faith in me, but after so many years of having quarterbacks that are what they are, having a bit of unknown in a former second-overall pick is kinda exciting.
What does the film say about Zach Wilson?
I tried to go back and find the good in Wilson’s film, as I think we all remember the dreadful performances by the young quarterback. The one trait that immediately stood out was the same trait that got him drafted so damn high in the first place, and that was his rocket arm. He puts zip on the ball that tua and other QBs simply can not. This helps him make up for maybe seeing things a bit late.
He made a few throws to the tight end down the seam or after avoiding the pass-rush that made me sit up in my computer chair. No, he’s not tua in that regard, but there’s definitely SOMETHING there. Untapped potential, as I think Miami has called it. It’s a pretty sight when everything is perfect, and he’s in rhythm.
Wilson did appear to move around in the pocket well and knew when to take off or roll out when necessary. This is an added dynamic that he brings to the table that other quarterbacks have not — even if Snoop Huntley showed a little bit of that potential last season.
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The Verdict
All in all, my good pal Brian Cat said it best: regardless of who the backup quarterback is, the season rests on the shoulders of Tua Tagovailoa and Tua Tagovailoa alone. If he goes down, the ship— as we’ve seen before — goes down with it. Only this time, instead of a journeyman backup like Teddy Bridgewater, Mike White, Skylar Thompson, or Snoop Huntley, Miami’s backup quarterback is a 25-year-old former first-round draft pick with ‘untapped potential’ (Those words are not mine…. but I do agree!).
I like the signing and see the potential, but are we any more confident this year than in years prior? Is Zach Wilson enough to help keep the ship afloat? I want to answer with a resounding YES, but I’ve been wrong about these types of things before. Nevertheless, there’s a good chance we’ll get our answer sooner rather than later.
What are your thoughts on Zach Wilson signing with the Dolphins? Are you confident in his ability to start if/when Tua Tagovailoa drops? Is there another quarterback you would have preferred? Let us know in the comments section below!
