Could Marcus Mariota be Miami’s solution at backup quarterback?
The Miami Dolphins believed they had found their quarterback when they gave Tua Tagovailoa a four-year, $212 million contract, but their inability to find an adequate backup doomed the 2024 season.
Adam Schefter indicated it could come down to the Dolphins and Raiders for QB Marcus Mariota this offseason.
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The Dolphins failed to exceed 15 points in four games without Tagovailoa early last season — a mistake that general manager Chris Grier and the front office will work to avoid this offseason. With a capable backup needed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter sees Miami pursuing 2015 No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota once free agency begins on March 12.
On Monday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter mentioned that both the Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders, who recently hired Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator—Mariota’s former coach at Oregon—would have interest. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner hasn’t played more than three games since 2022 but has been an effective backup.
Mariota completed 34 of 44 passes for 408 yards and five total touchdowns for the Washington Commanders in 2024. He didn’t turn the ball over and added 18 carries for 92 yards on the ground.
“That’s a position we will always focus on,” Grier said at his end-of-season press conference. “It will be a position that we will focus on this offseason.”
While the Dolphins may pursue a backup in the draft, the franchise is in must-win mode and doesn’t have the time to deal with the growing pains of a rookie quarterback. Miami may throw a dart at a mid-round signal caller, but an experienced backup must be on the opening-day roster.
