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The Miami Dolphins currently have a backup quarterback problem. The good news is that the issue is pretty straight forward: they don’t have one. The solution? Also pretty cut and dry: find one. Miami will have options but given the current inexperience in the quarterback room, the Dolphins would be wise to try to target someone with a bit of playing experience under their belt to hold the clipboard on Sundays. An added bonus to adding experience would come from the mentorship that an experienced backup quarterback would bring to the fray for a young Dolphins offense and, more specifically, quarterback room.
While the backup quarterback market isn’t highly inspirational this offseason, there is a new name reported to be entering into the fray: long-time backup quarterback Chase Daniel.
Daniel has managed to float around the league for over a decade now — having spent four years in New Orleans, three in Kansas City, two in Chicago and one apiece in both Detroit and Philadelphia. 11 seasons, a total of 261 pass attempts, a 2-3 record as a starting quarterback and 8 career touchdown passes. Yet despite such a lengthy career with little returns, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Daniel has been the subject of trade talks in Detroit.
Lions have had trade discussions with other teams regarding their backup QB Chase Daniel, per sources. Daniel has been considered an ideal mentor for young QBs, something he learned from Drew Brees during their time together in New Orleans.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2021
Could Miami be one of those teams?
The Dolphins would likely embrace the addition of Daniel for the dynamics he’d bring to the roster — his presence would be much less complicated than the one Ryan Fitzpatrick provided down the stretch for the team in 2020 as the Dolphins looked to push their way into the postseason. Miami’s hand was ultimately forced in Week 17 as Fitzpatrick tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to play in Miami’s season-finale against the Buffalo Bills; a game they lost by 30 points despite Buffalo sitting starters for the majority of the game.
Any team who trades for Daniel would owe him $9.55M in new cash over the next two seasons, making him a fairly priced backup quarterback relative to what some of the top backups in years past have gotten. For an example, the Raiders committed $17.6M over two seasons to sign Marcus Mariota last offseason; so trading a late round pick for Daniel to fill the void as a veteran backup may be a worthwhile play for Miami to consider for the financial implications and experience alike.