The Miami Dolphins had to address their quarterback room this offseason. After last year’s backups departed, they were essentially left with only Tua Tagovailoa.
To fix that, the Dolphins turned to both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. First, they signed former first-round pick Zach Wilson. Then, in what could prove to be one of the biggest steals of this year’s draft, they selected Texas’ Quinn Ewers in the seventh round at No. 231 overall.
It was a disappointing 2024 season for the Dolphins, who missed the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel. Much of that was attributed to Tagovailoa’s absence down the stretch.
Tagovailoa missed six games after suffering another concussion and a hip injury late in the year, finishing 6-5 as a starter.
“Those types of performances won’t cut it if the Dolphins are going to get back into the playoffs for the third time in four years with Tagovailoa at the helm,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote.
Kay actually predicted Ewers would take over for Tagovailoa at some point this season. But former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert believes Miami may go another route—by trading for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
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“I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Dolphins trade for Browns QB Dillon Gabriel at the end of preseason,” Benkert posted. “They liked him a ton and saw him as an incredible scheme fit with athletic upside and were going to take him a few picks later, but then the Browns drafted him (per source). The Dolphins traded that pick away after Gabriel was no longer available.”
Gabriel, a third-round selection at No. 94 overall out of Oregon, was taken after the Dolphins had already used their top picks on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (No. 13 overall) and Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea (No. 37). Their next pick came in the fifth round at No. 143 with Maryland offensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
Of course, the Browns weren’t done adding quarterbacks. With their next pick at No. 144 overall, they took Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. That gave Cleveland a packed quarterback room that already featured Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett—though it’s unlikely Watson plays this season.
Perhaps that’s why Benkert believes Gabriel could end up in Miami. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, one scout referred to Gabriel as a “knock-off Tua.”
“He’s not for everyone,” the scout said. “Miami should take him as a knock-off Tua.”
The connection makes sense for a few reasons. Tagovailoa and Gabriel share similar physical traits and, more importantly, both are left-handed—potentially allowing for a seamless transition if Tagovailoa, who has battled injuries throughout his career, goes down again.
If such a trade were to happen, it could serve as a clear sign of where both teams believe they’re headed entering the 2025 season.
