MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The report from Fox Sports Sunday that the Miami Dolphins are expected to pursue free agent quarterback Daniel Jones shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
The Dolphins arguably have the worst backup quarterback situation in the NFL, as evidenced by how terrible their offense was in the four games that Tua Tagovailoa missed this year.
But by bringing in Jones on a two-year deal, the Dolphins would go a long way to solving that issue both in the short and medium terms.
Miami Dolphins’ Interest in Daniel Jones?
Jones is available after the Giants formally waived him Saturday (Nov. 23). He must first go through the waiver process, but given his contract situation — he has a $23 million injury guarantee in 2025 if he can’t pass a physical by the start of the league year — it would be stunning if any team claimed him.
So expect Jones to formally pass through waivers Monday afternoon and be a true free agent, eligible to sign with whomever he wants.
Jones, per ESPN, prefers to join up with a contender, and the results of this weekend’s games will inform his decision. ESPN names the Baltimore Ravens (who currently have Josh Johnson as their backup) and the Minnesota Vikings (Nick Mullens) as two leading contenders to land Jones.
The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings are two of the likeliest teams to land free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones, per sources. But they are hardly the only ones. Jones wants to sign with a playoff contender, and what happens in Week 12 is expected to influence his decision. pic.twitter.com/QS9npZJO34
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 24, 2024
Any path to replacing Skylar Thompson with Jones as Dolphins QB2 begins with Miami beating the New England Patriots Sunday.
A loss would cripple their playoff hopes.
But if they do go into Thanksgiving Week at 5-6, they should go hard after Jones — and offering him something perhaps no other team will: A contract that runs through 2025.
The Dolphins, by signing Jones (who has completed 64.1% of his passes and thrown 70 touchdowns to 47 interceptions in his career), would solve perhaps the team’s No. 1 offseason problem.
The Dolphins could lock in Tua’s backup in 2024 and 2025 — and probably do it for cheaper than they could in four months. Plus, adding Jones now would give him a four-month headstart on learning McDaniel’s complex system.
Jones’ body of work stacks up favorably compared to the other players expected to be available in free agency this spring.
Here are the 10 best free agent quarterbacks of 2025, according to PFN’s National NFL Writer Dallas Robinson:
- Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
- Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
- Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
- Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
- Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
- Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans
- Carson Wentz, Kansas City Chiefs
Darnold, Wilson, and Fields will likely want to go to teams where they will have a chance to start. And perhaps Jones will, too.
But here’s our advice after his nightmare final season with the Giants: Go to a place like Miami where you can reset, revamp your game under a smart quarterback mind like Mike McDaniel, and know that the odds are high you’ll play a meaningful role in 2024.
Tagovailoa has missed at least one game due to injury in every NFL season but one, which is why finding an option 1B at quarterback is so important for Miami.