Zach Wilson’s Dolphins stint already spiraling after brutal spring struggles

New York Jets fans have seen this movie before. And so far, it looks like the Miami Dolphins might be the next team to learn the hard way.

Former Jets quarterback Zach Wilson signed a one-year, fully guaranteed $6 million contract with the Dolphins this offseason after spending the 2024 season as a third-stringer with the Denver Broncos.

Despite the fresh start, early reports out of Dolphins minicamp suggest the same issues that plagued Wilson in New York — inconsistent accuracy and poor decision-making — continue to define his game.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Wilson threw two interceptions in practice on Tuesday, one of which was returned for a pick-six, and nearly added a third before it was dropped by cornerback Ethan Bonner.

Additionally, one of his screen passes was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and another was nearly intercepted outright. Jackson noted that Wilson continued what he described as an “uneven offseason” — putting it mildly — during Tuesday’s minicamp session.

Dolphins are already learning the Zach Wilson lesson the hard way

Dolphins beat reporter Omar Kelly echoed similar concerns, noting that while Wilson’s arm talent remains apparent, his accuracy and decision-making continue to be an issue. Kelly described Wilson as “uneven, much like his NFL career,” highlighting a trend that’s unfortunately followed him since his days in New York.

Even Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged the quarterback’s rocky path, praising Wilson for overcoming early career criticism and emphasizing his “supreme arm talent." Of course, talent alone has never been the issue for Wilson.

The former BYU star was brought in to back up Tua Tagovailoa and compete with rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, but make no mistake, Miami expects Wilson to be their QB2.

That fully-guaranteed $6 million contract hefty price tag for a player who didn’t appear in a single game last season and spent the year buried on Denver’s depth chart.

The Broncos acquired Wilson in a low-risk trade with the Jets last offseason, hoping Sean Payton could succeed where others had failed. But Wilson never got on the field in 2024, and the experiment quietly ended after one uneventful year.

Now, he finds himself in an even more curious situation. Miami’s timing-based, precision-heavy offense demands quick reads and accurate throws, the exact areas where Wilson has consistently struggled. If there’s a system less suited to his skill set, it hasn’t been invented.

Zach Wilson is still hoping to salvage his NFL career, but his latest redemption tour is already off to a rough start.

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