The Miami Dolphins just shipped off quarterback Quinn Ewers to the Jacksonville Jaguars, grabbing a 2028 sixth-round pick in return. Yeah, you read that right, a 2028 pick for a guy who started three games last season. This isn’t just another depth chart shuffle, folks; it’s a clear signal from the new regime in Miami that they’re all in on veteran Malik Willis.
Ewers’ Miami Moment Was Short and Sweet…ish
Let’s be real, Ewers’ time in Miami was a blink. He was a 2025 seventh-rounder out of Texas, even snagging second-team All-SEC honors in 2024 collegiately. The plan was for him to be a developmental guy behind Tua Tagovailoa, who the Dolphins cut bait with earlier this offseason. Ewers actually got some burn as a rookie last year, starting three games from Week 16 through Week 18. He went 1-2 in those starts, completing 50 of 75 attempts for 569 yards, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions. He even scrambled for 19 yards! But then came the preseason with a groin injury, limiting him to just one completion on eight attempts for 27 yards and another pick. It felt like the writing was on the wall.
New Regime, New QB Room: The Willis Era Is Here
This trade isn’t happening in a vacuum. Miami’s got a whole new look with general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley running the show. That new crew didn’t draft Ewers, and they’ve already moved on from Tagovailoa. They brought in Malik Willis in free agency, and it’s crystal clear he’s their guy, the starter heading into the season. With Cam Miller and undrafted rookie Mark Gronowski now behind Willis on the depth chart, Ewers was simply on the outside looking in. The Dolphins earned a “C” grade for this move, which is fair. He wasn’t in their long-term plans, and getting *any* draft capital, even a distant 2028 sixth-rounder, for a player they likely would have cut is a smart, if unspectacular, move. It also opens up the possibility of a first-round QB in the 2027 NFL Draft if the “Malik Willis experiment” doesn’t pan out.
What’s Next for Ewers in Jacksonville?
So, Ewers is headed to Jacksonville, and honestly, it’s not exactly a wide-open competition there either. Trevor Lawrence is the established starter, fresh off arguably the best season of his career under coach Liam Coen. Ewers, who’s still just 23, will be battling it out with Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley, and Joey Aguilar for a spot in that QB pecking order. The Jaguars snagged a “C+” grade for the trade, a slight edge just because Ewers is the “only known commodity” here. For the Dolphins, it’s Malik Willis’s team now. Period. And for Ewers? He’s got his work cut out for him in Jacksonville, battling to even be the backup to Lawrence. We’ll see how this shakes out, but one thing is clear: the Dolphins are all in on their new QB room.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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