Quarterback Zach Wilson has officially departed the Miami Dolphins after a single season, signing a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. This move marks the fourth team for Wilson in four years, as he transitions from his brief stint in Miami, where he played a mere 26 snaps and leaves behind $3.8 million in dead cap space for the 2026 season.
Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, will now compete for a backup role against former draft selection Spencer Rattler behind Tyler Shough, a second-round pick in 2025 who was a close contender for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Wilson”s journey has seen him play for the New York Jets in 2023, the Denver Broncos in 2024, and now the Saints.
During his time with the Dolphins, Wilson”s tenure was not particularly fruitful. He lost the backup role he was signed for when rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers took over for the Week 7 matchup in Cleveland. Additionally, after head coach Mike McDaniel decided to bench starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a Week 15 loss, Wilson ended the season with only four appearances, completing 6 of 11 passes.
The Dolphins had hoped for more from Wilson after signing him to a one-year contract worth $6 million, which included a void year that contributes to the current cap charge. It is unlikely that Wilson”s new deal with the Saints will approach the previous amount, and it is expected that he will not qualify as a compensatory free agent.
Current Quarterback Situation for the Dolphins
Even before Wilson”s signing with the Saints, his return to the Dolphins seemed unlikely given the circumstances of last season. Currently, Miami”s quarterback roster includes Malik Willis, Ewers, and late-season addition Cam Miller. It appears that Ewers is set to take the role of the primary backup to Willis, who is expected to secure the starting position, especially following a significant financial commitment of $45 million over the next two seasons.
While there is a possibility that the Dolphins might look to add another quarterback through the draft, the presence of two young quarterbacks and the overall quality of the 2026 quarterback draft class suggests that the Dolphins may opt to forgo this route. The team may also lean towards securing a more experienced backup, though this would typically align more with a team in a playoff contention rather than one currently in a rebuilding phase.
At this juncture, it seems prudent to assert that Ewers will be the Dolphins” number two quarterback in 2026. Comparatively, he is expected to provide greater value than what the Dolphins received from Wilson, who is now aiming to rejuvenate his career with the Saints.
Alain Poupart, the publisher and editor of Miami Dolphins On SI, has been covering the Dolphins since 1989 across various platforms, including Dolphin Digest and the Associated Press. His extensive experience includes multiple Super Bowl covers and a deep involvement in the NFL draft and scouting combine.
