The Miami Dolphins missed the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel last season. Now, McDaniel enters 2025 as a hot-seat candidate with everything to prove.
McDaniel is 28-23 overall and 0-2 in the postseason, further fueling frustration for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in over two decades.
One of the Dolphins’ lingering problems continues to be quarterback stability — and that hasn’t changed under McDaniel. For him, it’s less about Tua Tagovailoa’s production and more about his ability to stay on the field.
Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension last offseason, has developed a reputation for being injury-prone, often leaving the Dolphins scrambling without him. That’s why Bleacher Report’s Mitch Milani is urging Miami to make a bold move: trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
“I just think if Miami wants to learn from their history and Mike McDaniel doesn’t want to lose his job because his quarterback can’t stay healthy, Kirk Cousins is the way to go,” Milani said.
Milani explained that Miami makes a lot of sense for Cousins. He pointed to the warm weather — which limits late-season cold-weather games — and the fact that McDaniel’s scheme is built on rhythm, timing, and touch. According to Milani, it doesn’t require a big arm or elite mobility to succeed, and Cousins could thrive the same way Tagovailoa has.
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Even if Cousins initially served as a backup, Tagovailoa’s injury history suggests he’d likely see the field at some point.
In five seasons, Tagovailoa has played just one full year — back in 2023. Last season, he missed six games due to concussion and hip issues.
Cousins added fuel to the speculation Tuesday by skipping the Falcons’ first day of OTAs. Though he’s been frequently linked to the Steelers, the Dolphins could be a dark horse. Still, the quarterback room is already crowded in Miami, with Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson, and rookies Quinn Ewers and Brett Gabbert all in the mix.
