Tag: Skylar Thompson

Skylar Thompson, Erik Ezukanma seem to have a connection

The two rookies were making plays on Saturday.

The Miami Dolphins’ offense struggled to get going for most of their preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, as they had only scored six points through the first three quarters.

When seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson and fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma got on the field, late in the second half, there seemed to be a spark.

In their two drives together, Thompson hit Ezukanma five times for 88 yards, as the rookie quarterback led Miami to a touchdown and then put them in field goal position on their final possession.

After the game, both players were asked about their connection, and Ezukanma said it’s just something that’s been there since the beginning.

“Ever since rookie minicamp, I would come in and just felt like it’s a connection there,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a Big 12 connection or anything like that, but just me and Skylar, it’s just natural I feel like when I’m out there. We’re able to communicate and talk through things, and when the ball is in the air, I just go up there and make plays.”

Thompson echoed a similar sentiment, as he reminisced their early days at rookie minicamp.

“I came in with Erik, so we spent a lot of time together – learning the playbook and all that stuff when we first came in here,” Thompson said. “Really, we hit it off from the get-go in rookie minicamp. Erik’s always been my guy, so when the clock’s ticking and it’s time to go, I’m going to go to my guys that I trust and who are doing a good job, and he’s been doing a great job. All the guys out there with me tonight were making plays, doing the right thing, making plays for me. It makes my job a lot easier when I’ve got guys that go out there and do that.”

While Ezukanma’s job was essentially guaranteed when he was selected in the fourth round, Thompson’s was far from it. However, they’re both playing to a level that might convince the team to keep Thompson on the 53-man roster and give Ezukanma more opportunities when the regular season starts.

[listicle id=452256]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwhebtqp7ahdjt player_id=none image=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Report: Skylar Thompson to start vs. Buccaneers, may play full game

The rookie is expected to get a majority of the work.

Prior to the Miami Dolphins preseason opener on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced a number of players are not expected to play, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Just before the game, however, The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad reported that rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson is expected to start the game and could potentially play all four quarters.

Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be available, but it appears that the Dolphins want to get an extended look at their seventh-round pick out of Kansas State.

Thompson has looked good so far in training camp, considering when he was taken, and he’ll have a chance to prove that the Dolphins should keep him around on the roster in this first contest.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”PkcfrOaYC4-2173987-7498″]

[listicle id=451978]

Dolphins QB, OL and specialist ratings in Madden NFL 23

Only one player from the groups made it into the top 10 for their position.

With the end of another NFL offseason in sight, football fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the newest installment of the Madden video game series, Madden 23.

After the release of every other position group’s ratings, EA Sports, the publishers of the game, finished the week by putting out quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings on Friday. The Dolphins only had one player in any of those groups make it into the top 10 at their position.

Here’s a look at most of Miami’s quarterback, offensive line and specialist ratings for launch and how they compare to other players at the same position:

  • Terron Armstead – 93 overall (No. 4 LT)
  • Thomas Morstead – 80 overall (No. 7 P)
  • Tua Tagovailoa – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Teddy Bridgewater – 75 overall (t-No. 22 QB)
  • Jason Sanders – 75 overall (t-No. 17 K)
  • Robert Hunt – 74 overall (t-No. 16 RG)
  • Connor Williams – 73 overall (t-No. 18 C)
  • Liam Eichenberg – 68 overall (t-No. 30 RT)
  • Solomon Kindley – 68 overall (t-No. 33 RG)
  • Austin Jackson – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Greg Little – 67 overall (t-No. 41 LT)
  • Michael Deiter – 64 overall (t-No. 43 C)
  • Robert Jones – 63 overall (t-No. 49 LG)
  • Kellen Diesch – 62 overall (t-No. 52 LT)
  • Skylar Thompson – 57 overall (t-No. 80 QB)
  • Larnel Coleman – 57 overall (t-No. 69 RT)
  • Adam Pankey – 54 overall (t-No. 77 RT)

EA Sports also announced the team and unit ratings. Miami’s offense was rated a 79, the defense was rated an 84 and special teams was rated an 80. Overall, the team was given an 83.

[listicle id=451249]

Contract details for every member of the Dolphins’ 2022 draft class

Here’s how much the first-year players are making.

The Miami Dolphins have signed their full four-man draft class from 2022 in the last couple of months, and the team now has $16.52 million left in cap space for the year.

They’re expected to get varying results from each member of the class, with some potentially getting significant reps while others shouldn’t touch the field this season.

Here’s a quick look at the terms for the Dolphins’ selected rookies from this spring as provided by Over the Cap.

2022 Dolphins positional preview: There’s a QB rostered for each role

There may not be a ton of competition, but the room should be passable.

The 2021 season wasn’t great for the Miami Dolphins’ offensive side of the ball. They struggled to find consistency throughout the year and were constantly putting their defense into poor positions.

With all of the moves that the Dolphins have made this season, including hiring an offensive-minded head coach, they’re hoping that the production will be much better.

At the quarterback position, the Dolphins are set to enter training camp with three options that should be able to perform in their roles and do so well. Here’s a quick look at all three signal-callers that Miami has on their roster at this point.

Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy discusses Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson as an NFL prospect

He thought his age would keep him from being drafted.

Last season, the Miami Dolphins were without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for five games due to injury which forced them to start Jacoby Brissett.

Miami went 2-3 in those games, but one of those wins came against the Baltimore Ravens when Tagovailoa played the second half, leading to 16 of the team’s 22 points that day.

The Dolphins’ front office and new coaching staff knew that they needed to upgrade at backup this offseason, so they brought in Teddy Bridgewater and Chris Streveler to be the second and third strings respectively. However, during the 2022 NFL draft, Miami used their seventh-round pick on quarterback Skylar Thompson out of Kansas State.

Since then, Thompson has already beaten out Streveler, giving him the third spot on the depth chart for now.

While there’s not a ton of opportunity for the public to see what’s going on at OTAs and minicamps, a lot is put into the word of the experts who have gotten to see him before he entered the NFL.

This week, Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy spoke to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and explained what the Dolphins got in Thompson.

“We liked him. Going back a couple years, we were watching him quite a bit. Met him at the Manning camp. Really liked him. I thought his age [24] would force him to go undrafted. Good athlete, gritty kid, he plays the position well. He processes well, makes good decisions. It has been a durability thing and an age thing with him.

“We had good grades on Skylar the last couple years. You’re drafting a guy you anticipate competing for in undrafted free agency, so by picking him in the seventh round [you avoid needing to compete with other teams to sign him]. He is a good quarterback.”

It’s unclear whether or not head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier want to enter the 2022 NFL season with two or three quarterbacks on the active roster. Either way, Thompson has a good shot to stick around on the 53-man or on the practice squad.

If, over the next few seasons, he can develop into a competent backup that the team has confidence in, the pick will be considered a definite success. However, fans will hope he never sees the field because that means their starters are healthy and playing well.

[listicle id=450138]

Best photos of new Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson at Kansas State

Check him out during his Wildcat days.

The Miami Dolphins were without picks in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL draft due to the Tyreek Hill trade, so their first selection wasn’t until the end of the third round. With their fourth and final pick of the three-day event, general manager Chris Grier drafted Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson.

When Thompson was drafted, it was clear that he would be fighting for a spot on the roster with Chris Streveler, as Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater were essentially set in as the starter and backup respectively. However, Streveler was waived during OTAs this week, meaning the rookie appears to have the third job, for now.

While OTAs are wrapping up, here are some of the best pictures of Thompson during his time as a Wildcat.

WATCH: First-year Dolphins getting work in at rookie minicamp

Let’s see what the young guys look like.

With the 2022 NFL draft and the schedule release in the books, the Miami Dolphins have turned their focus to instruction, as their first-year players and some tryouts are on the field for rookie minicamp this weekend.

Players are working out during the three-day event and are going over the basics of what the Dolphins want from those who make the final roster. Position coaches, coordinators and head coach Mike McDaniel are on hand to provide that instruction.

A number of beat writers, as well as the Dolphins’ social team, have put out some videos showcasing the work being done on the field.

Skylar Thompson is really looking forward to working with Dan Marino

He has the right attitude.

The Miami Dolphins have put together an interesting quarterback room as they prepare for the 2022 NFL season.

Tua Tagovailoa leads the group with veteran Teddy Bridgewater backing him up. Then, competing for the third/developmental spot are Skylar Thompson and Chris Streveler.

The former was Miami’s final pick in this year’s draft, and the Dolphins’ decision-makers really believe that he could grow into something with this team.

Luckily for Thompson, not only does he have Tagovailoa and Bridgewater to learn from, but he also has one of the great quarterbacks of all time, Dan Marino, who’s always popping into the quarterback room. The rookie is very excited about the opportunity to work with him.

“Man, it’s incredible,” Thompson said on “Drive Time” with Travis Wingfield. “Being able to be in the same room and share thoughts and try to be a sponge to one of the greatest of all time to play the position. That’s amazing just being able to be in the same presence, being able to ask questions, have him as a resource, someone who’s done it and done it really well. That’s something I’m really looking forward to whenever I get to meet Dan, and talk to him and just pick his brain and be a sponge.”

Thompson has the right attitude. He’s willing to do whatever the team asks, and he’s ready to learn from everyone in the building.

[listicle id=449887]

Dolphins announce jersey numbers for rookie class

Now, we can imagine what they’ll look like in the aqua and orange.

The Miami Dolphins are set to hold their rookie minicamp this weekend, and in preparation, the team released a roster for the event.

There are a lot of names that we are familiar with, including the four rookies that the Dolphins drafted and the 14 undrafted free agents that they signed to the roster. In addition, there are a number of players who will be trying out for the team.

Here are the jersey numbers of the four drafted rookies and the UDFAs:

  • Skylar Thompson – No. 19
  • Verone McKinley – No. 32
  • Elijah Hamilton – No. 33
  • Kader Kohou – No. 38
  • ZaQuandre White – No. 47
  • Tanner Conner – No. 48
  • Channing Tindall – No. 51
  • Cameron Goode – No. 53
  • Deandre Johnson – No. 56
  • Tommy Heatherly – No. 59
  • Ty Clary – No. 61
  • Kellen Diesch – No. 64
  • Andre Blaise – No. 71
  • Braylon Sanders – No. 86
  • Erik Ezukanma – No. 87
  • Ben Stille – No. 90
  • Owen Carney – No. 93
  • Jordan Williams – No. 97

[listicle id=449887]