The Dolphins are one of only a couple of teams that will be having open quarterback competitions in training camp. They signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year, $11MM deal this offseason, but then traded a second-round pick for Josh Rosen in April. 
Many have accused the Dolphins of tanking, and they’re definitely playing for the future, so it’s been assumed the team will want to get a look at Rosen sooner or later. Not so fast. Fitzpatrick has apparently been impressing during OTAs and minicamp, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Additionally, Jackson writes that Rosen is a “clear underdog to begin the season as the starter.”
One Dolphins player told Jackson that Fitzpatrick has “impressed everyone as a leader and that he was clearly the best quarterback in the offseason program.” Rosen started 13 games for the Cardinals as a rookie last year, and struggled mightily. He completed only 55 percent of his passes, and had more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (11). That being said the circumstances were far from ideal, as we was playing for an offensive coordinator who was fired just a handful of weeks into the season, and with one of the league’s worst offensive lines.
Fitzpatrick started the first few games of the 2018 season for the Buccaneers due to Jameis Winston‘s suspension, and played so well that he initially kept the job when Winston returned. He was subsequently benched, reinserted, and benched again before the end of the year. Fitzpatrick has always been more than capable of playing lights out in flashes, but has struggled for consistency.
New Dolphins coach Brian Flores has insisted that the team isn’t going to tank, so maybe he will go with Fitzpatrick each week if he thinks it gives him the best chance to win. Miami only gave up a late second-rounder for Rosen, so it’s not as if they’re too heavily invested in the UCLA product.
That being said, with Fitzpatrick’s relatively modest contract they aren’t too invested in him either. Miami will likely be picking early in next year’s draft and they’ll need to get a look at Rosen to see whether or not they need to draft a quarterback. Fitzpatrick will likely falter at some point and relinquish his grip on the starting job, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be right away.
Playing Fitzpatrick over Rosen would be so awful. You can tank just fine with Rosen at QB
Exactly. Fitzpatrick is just for 1 year so why even play him if you ain’t gunning for the playoffs? If you are gunning for the future, then go with someone who might be around in the future. And that’s Rosen.
Fitzmagic signed a 2 year deal.
Play him the 1st 4 weeks and if you’re 2-2 or better run with him. Once you’re 2 games below .500 after that he’s done for the year.
Those “far from ideal” circumstances haven’t exactly improved. I like Rosen, I hope he succeeds, but his situation isn’t exactly on the upswing IMO.
Fitz will throw for a 1000 yards in their first two games then lose the next 5. Rosen will be playing by week 7 or 8.
Yes, that’s typical Fitzmagic for you. After the first couple of games Then the real Fitzpatrick shows up.
Yeah right.
Starting the season with Fitz wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, because benching him for Rosen is better than benching Rosen for Fitz.
Why wouldn’t you play Rosen to see if he is any good ? If he isn’t you now know and will have a high draft pick to draft a new qb. If by luck he turns out good you now have a qb. So it’s a win win but if you sit him for an old career back up qb you don’t know and go into the draft next year not knowing . Putting yourself into situations like that is exactly why some teams are bad
Rosen not starting the season doesn’t mean he’s not going to play.
Playing Fitzpatrick is a waste as their is no future in him and leaves your future drafting cloudy on who to draft. Rosen good or bad at least gives you answers for the future
Josh Rosen is really UNDERDOG !!
Who is Simon Bar Sinister ??
It makes more sense to let Fitz start and allow Rosen to learn the system and grow, something he didn’t get to do in Arizona.
You mean to tell me the 14 yr vet looks better than the kid off his rookie season? I’m Shocked.
Dolphins currently have a young offensive line who hasn’t played together yet. Starting the season with Rosen would not be wise. Let the line develop some cohesiveness before giving the reigns to Rosen.