MIAMI GARDENS — You’d always want Lamar Jackson on your team, because he’s a three-time Most Valuable Player and one of the top quarterbacks in a league built around quarterbacks. But there’s no chance Baltimore trades him despite the rumors.
And you’d surely want Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore as your quarterback, because they’re the hot college quarterbacks in the NFL draft that starts inching into view now. But for the Miami Dolphins to rise from the 12th spot in the draft, where they sit after Sunday’s 20-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to the first or second spot to get either one seems as fanciful as getting Lamar.
So, the Dolphins question as the season left Hard Rock Stadium until next summer is the question asked in some way around this team for a quarter-century: Where do they find a franchise quarterback? And can they even recognize one?
And, specifically, who is Quinn Ewers?
Eight days ago, Ewers was a before-the-fall Skyler Thompson, just another seventh-round rookie playing for a job. Now Ewers has a job. Now he’s replaced Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson and moves into next season as someone with a purposeful role.
What role? Ewers looked like a capable backup again Sunday. That’s a good step forward from eight days ago. He looks like someone who the next Dolphins’ front office, whoever it involves, could say was competing for the starting job.
The No. 1 challenge of this franchise hasn’t changed because of two respectable Ewers starts. Everyone surely knows that. The Dolphins have to find someone this offseason who looks and throws like a franchise quarterback or they have to say next year is another cost of rebuilding. Maybe both.
Malik Willis, Green Bay’s backup, would be an intriguing name to sign this offseason. He’s sat and developed for the past couple of years. He started Saturday and threw 288 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 60 yards and two more touchdowns in Green Bay’s loss to Baltimore.
“Watch him, he has the chance to be special,” a veteran scout said before that game.
Willis also a free agent who probably will cost north of $30 million a year, a former general manager guessed Sunday. Can the Dolphins whose salary-cap hell only starts with owing Tua at least $67 million next season be a player in that money game? Is that even possible?
And would a quarterback with options like Willis pick a team handcuffed by money and roster problems?
A lot will be made about the Dolphins’ rookie class helps that roster because it had a nice day Sunday. Ewers completed 14-of-22 passes for 172 yards and a couple of touchdowns. The three defensive linemen, headed by top pick Kenneth Grant, helped hold Tampa Bay to 53 yards rushing. One of those linemen, Zeek Biggers, blocked a field goal.
All good as far as it went. None are sure things. And the other story Sunday was second-round pick Chop Robinson leaving with a concussion to probably end a disappointing second season. His sack total dropped from six to four, and his quarterback hits from 14 to seven. He was tomorrow at the position, too. Now?
But the big question is quarterback, just as it always is when you don’t have one. They’re in a division of Buffalo’s Josh Allen, New England’s Drake Maye and the New York Jets sitting in the third draft spot and loaded with No. 1 picks to trade from in-season deals.
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Before deciding on a quarterback, Dolphins owner Steve Ross has to decide on who’s picking him. It takes talent to find talent. The Dolphins haven’t had enough talent in the front office for years, and that’s been clear in the standings.
Early Sunday night, the cleaners were picking up trash around Hard Rock Stadium one final time this season after a Dolphins game. The middle of the field was being dug out and changed for the coming College Football Playoff game.
Another season is a game from gone. There was some good news Sunday in the sense any win brings good news. That starts with Ewers, whose good first half accompanied the win. The question that won’t be answered now is if he’s a nice backup quarterback, the kind every team needs, or can grow into something more.
The Dolphins’ offseason always seems more intriguing than the season. That’s not a good thing. They’ll be doing what they often do in deciding on who looks for the quarterback they haven’t found in decades.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) takes the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) speaks to the media after the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) walks off the field after the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel runs off the filed after the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis (21) runs off the field after intercepting a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis (21) gets up after interce[pting a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell (56) grabs bu can’t bring down Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell (56) grabs bu can’t bring down Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) celebrates a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked and fumbles in the fourth crater agains the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) runs for a first down against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) celebrates after running for a first down against Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) walks off the field holding his ribs during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a pass over Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis (21) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) is brought down by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) after catching his own deflected pass Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (5) runs for a first down past Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (3)Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) calls the defense play as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) prepares to get the snap Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) rolls out top pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (85) runs in a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. (81) runs in a touchdown past the defense of Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) takes the field before Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) and Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) take the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel takes the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins GM Champ Kelly is seen before the gam against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan arrives early for the matchup against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Lots of Bucs fans are expected as the team can make the playoffs with win. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) spoeaks with quarterback coach Darrell Bevell before the gam against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
/\Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) embraces quarterback coach Darrell Bevell before the gam against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) visit prior to the game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) takes the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)