Dolphins Get White as New Backup QB

The Miami Dolphins reportedly have agreed to terms with former Jets backup Mike White on a two-year deal

The Miami Dolphins didn't wait very long to get their new backup quarterback for Tua Tagovailoa.

The team has reached agreement with former New York Jets backup Mike White on a two-year deal that could be worth up to $16 million, according to multiple reports.

White, a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida — not far from Hard Rock Stadium — played for the New York Jets the past two seasons, appearing in eight games with seven starts. His stats weren't particularly impressive, with a 2-5 record as a starter and eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

White replaced an ineffective Zach Wilson midway through last season and had a memorable first start, throwing three touchdown passes in a 31-10 victory against the Chicago Bears that got the Jets to 7-4 on the season.

But the Jets closed out with six straight losses to end up 7-10 and White struggled badly in his final three starts — between dealing with rib injuries — when he completed only 55 percent of his passes with no touchdowns, four interceptions and a passer rating of 61.5 over that stretch.

White initially entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 but never played a game for them before joining the Jets.

During an appearance on the Joe Rose Radio Show last month, White said he was hoping to re-sign with the Jets, but also made clear a homecoming would be nice as well.

“Oh, hundred percent,” White said. "Selfishly, from a personal standpoint, obviously growing up down there, I’d love to go home. But from a football standpoint, it’s a very talented offense, really good, young group of guys. You can tell they’re starting to build something special down there. I would love to be a part of it.”

ANALYZING THE MIKE WHITE ADDITION

The Dolphins were in need of a new backup quarterback in 2023 because veteran Teddy Bridgewater had too many durability issues last season and those forced Miami to go into their first playoff game since 2016 with rookie seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson as the starter.

Head coach Mike McDaniel addressed the backup quarterback situation during his recent press conference at the scouting combine.

"I think as it stands right now, I was happy with what Skylar was able to do under the pretense that he’s going to continue to get better, and I think Tua is in a different spot," McDaniel said. "I think the team is in a different spot. And I think there’s some competitive advantages that we can bring to the room through free agency and that’s what we’ll look to do, is at least have some — there will be competition regardless in the room, regardless of who we sign — but I think that’s something that we’re definitely interested in to make the quarterback room better.”

While White had his moments with the Jets in 2022 and before in 2021 — he threw four touchdown passes in an upset victory against the Cincinnati Bengals — it's fair to wonder just how much White will make the quarterback room better.

And it's also fair to wonder how much the Dolphins can win with White if Tagovailoa ends up being sidelined at any point during the 2023 season.

The price tag also is interesting, considering the Dolphins paid Bridgewater $6.5 million (guaranteed) in 2022 when he was the second-highest-paid backup in the league behind only Jimmy Garoppolo.

It's important to note here, as well, this nugget from Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald citing the agent of another backup quarterback suggesting the Dolphins had a certain limit they were willing to reach.

Given that Tua has a cap number of only $9 million for 2023, it could be argued this isn't an area where the Dolphins should have been stingy with their money because they have a roster capable of competing for a championship and it would be a shame to see it go to waste because of a Tua injury and sub-par quarterback play.

The Dolphins obviously feel that White has the potential to succeed in their offense and they better hope they're right if they end up having to find out.