The Dolphins have a winner in their QB2 battle. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report, Miami is releasing Mike White, which leaves Skylar Thompson as Tua Tagovailoa‘s backup.
Last year, it was White who prevailed over Thompson in the war to serve as Tagovailoa’s clipboard holder. At the time, that seemed to be a significant development, as Tagovailoa had yet to play a full season and was coming off a concussion-riddled 2022 campaign. Fortunately for the Dolphins and their top passer, Tagovailoa suited up for all 17 of the club’s regular season games and one playoff contest last year, so White only appeared in garbage time.
Thompson, a seventh-round pick of the Dolphins in 2022, made two regular season starts as a rookie in relief of Tagovailoa, and he nearly led the team to a playoff win over the Bills that year. That performance was not enough to stop the ‘Fins from adding White as competition in March 2023, inking the former Cowboy and Jet to a two-year deal worth up to $16MM.
Given that financial commitment, it is not surprising that White beat out Thompson for the backup job in 2023, but as ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques points out, neither candidate separated himself over the course of this year’s training camp. Thompson saw the bulk of the action in the club’s preseason finale against the Bucs on Friday, completing 19 of 27 passes for 190 yards, two TDs, and an interception (good for a QB rating of 99.3). White, meanwhile, completed five of nine passes for 37 yards.
Although Thompson was drafted four years after White, the players are just two years apart in age (Thompson is 27, White is 29). Thompson, though, is under club control through 2025 and will make just $985K this season. White was due a $3.5MM salary, and as Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network observes, his release will net the Dolphins $2.5MM in cap savings.
As they start working their way towards a 53-man roster, the Dolphins have also cut TE Jody Fortson, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
This will really benefit some other team immensely. White was the only person to look competent in the Jets’ pre-Hackett offense in the games that I watched. He may be lacking in certain areas, such as general athleticism, but he was aware and decisive as a pocket passer on an overall very bad offense. He certainly has the ability to be a plus backup at the minimum on a needy team.
I know that Thompson had a good game against Tampa’s second string lineup in the last preseason game, but I really didn’t see much from him in the regular season performances that he got. Perhaps he’s improved significantly this year. Hopefully for Miami this will be a moot point, but Tua’s past doesn’t make it unlikely that we’ll see Thompson this year. To his credit, McDaniel does seem comfortable with Thompson, given their history.
I live in NJ and I listen to sports radio quite a bit. I have never heard guys drool and be completely infatuated than after his win against the bengals. It just goes to show you how starved fans are here in NY/NJ….
I thought that he played pretty well even in his losses. White was precise, decisive, and accurate-there were a few times when he made some great throws that his receiver didn’t help out on. Unfortunately, at the end of the game, he’d occasionally play hero ball to try to save the day, and got too greedy.
Overall, though, he looked MUCH better than what the Jets were getting out of Wilson, or could hope to have gotten. White looked like a quarterback to me who could have really done much better under a more stable organization. The Jets really haven’t had great luck with injuries, either, these last few years. When they make good moves, it seems like there’s missed time lurking in another area of need. I don’t think that that helps the lackluster results.
Sports radio in NYC is full of Jets haters/Giants groupies who can’t look beyond their own conventional wisdom.
The Giants could sign White if they only had half a brain. Didja see Tommy Cutlets getting sacked 8 times by the Jets’ B team?
You still have Drew Lock as number 2 on the Giants.
Lock is likely to start the season on IR with a hip pointer. White would be better than DeVito and much, much better than Daniel Jones.
He actually dressed for the final preseason. It sounds like he will be ready game 1
DeVito played all 60 minutes vs. the Jets. Would start the season as QB2 should Lock go to IR.
Mike white Monday.
He definitely flashed a bit with the jets but he got hurt a few times if I recall correctly. I’d take him as a back up with the Giants, though whoever the backup is will likely see some starts this year with Jones’ injury history and play.
Packers need a confident back up behind love.
White DID see his heights with the other LaFleur…
He’ll most likely get resigned or sign to another active roster. Giants Packers Cardinals Steelers could use the QB depth
Hmm, Tyrod is the Jets solidified #2 so a reunion probably doesn’t make sense, but he played effectively in the offense. I doubt he wants to be a #3, but if he is, the Jets should be listening.
Jordan Travis is the #3 when healthy. It’s possible that they could put another QB on the practice squad as an emergency QB option before Travis is healthy enough to play, but he will be on the 53 regardless. Peasley or Martinez could get a PS spot but neither was very impressive during preseason.
But, as you mentioned, he isn’t healthy and Saleh has already said his recovery is taking longer than they expected. He’s going to hit the IR. I would rather have Mike White than Martinez or Peasley but I think it’s a moot point anyway.
Lions should dump Sudfeld and pick up White as Goff’s backup
@motown lions have hooker
Hooker is behind Sudfield right now based on everything their beat has said (unless I missed updates).
@myaccount2 they most likely are saying that so they can trade sudfield. Hooker has too much potential to let go no way he makes it to the practice squad.
Lions are planning on carrying 3 QBs.
Sudfeld is not tradable… They’re keeping 3 guys… White would be an upgrade over Sudfeld. Not that I’d be stumping for it but Hooker might bring some nice draft capital back if they decide to move him… it’d definitely have to be an overpay though
@willyb Sudfeld can get a pick swap, I was commenting on the guy suggesting to get rid of both for white. Hooker is a good backup and you stash the third on the practice squad.
Someone should pick him up but I feel it could be after week 1 when salary won’t be guaranteed. As a Ravens fan I think he would be improvement over Johnson (29 instead of 37) and overall better player if Jackson gets hurt but team officials would know better then me in their system
Unless you’re playing in a toddler or ladies lingerie league…you ain’t gonna put fear into nobody with a name like Skylar.
Chargers need a quarterback
83% ccompletion rate? That’s not nothing.
With the rule change being nixed by the NFLPA, could the ‘Phins have acted too soon?
@phenomenon the rule was just moved to the practice squad you get a extra spot for a emergency qb.