Several players who signed up with the Miami Dolphins for free agency are beginning fresh chapters in their careers.
One of the most notable additions is quarterback Zach Wilson. The 2021 No. 2 overall pick agreed to a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March and is expected to back up Tua Tagovailoa this season.
This is Wilson’s third team in as many years after he served as a backup for the Denver Broncos last season and then was the New York Jets’ starting quarterback for most of his three years spent there.
The 25-year-old was expected to be brought in as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup. Still, after head coach Mike McDaniel’s comments at the 2025 NFL Annual Meeting, he’s expecting Wilson to prove something else.
When McDaniel was asked at the event what he liked most about Wilson, he used the opportunity to heavily praise him.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) attempts to throw the football as Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) approaches during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
“He was a direct, calculated target,” McDaniel said on Drive Time.”I watched every snap of his collegiate play. He was a phenomenal talent that, in my opinion, didn’t have reps in an NFL pocket yet.”
McDaniel added that he knew Wilson would have to continue growing his game a lot more even after he was named the Jets’ starter in 2021. But it was his resilience to keep his head up in difficult times that stood out to McDaniel.
Tagovailoa will most likely be the team’s starter for the 2025 season. But considering the time he has spent on the sidelines due to injuries, it sounds like Wilson is the type of player McDaniel is excited to see when he’s out on the field.
Wilson has previously said he will embrace the fresh start in South Florida and hopes to be the team’s starter.
Should he get his chance on the field, Wilson will have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal. The fifth-year pro may also play against the team that drafted and traded him since both are in the AFC East division.
