When Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went down with his latest concussion, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said that the team would be adding another quarterback to its room.
The team now has that new QB.
The Dolphins are signing former Ravens and Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley from free agency. The fifth-year signal caller was waived by Cleveland before the season, failing to secure a backup role with the organization.
While Skylar Thompson is expected to be the starter in Week 3 against the Broncos, Huntley gives Miami another option. The 26-year-old has more starting experience than Thompson, having made several starts during his career in Baltimore, but needs to learn the playbook before jumping into action.
Here is more to know about the Dolphins' quarterback situation after the Huntley signing.
MORE: 5 best Dolphins QB options | Dolphins QB depth chart | Tua Tagovailoa contract details
Dolphins QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| No. 1 | Skylar Thompson |
| No. 2 | Tyler Huntley |
| No. 3 | Tim Boyle (Practice Squad) |
| Tua Tagovailoa - Q |
No. 1. Skylar Thompson
With Tagovailoa sidelined, Thompson is expected to step in as the starter.
Drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft from Kansas State, Thompson has been a member of the team's quarterback room ever since. He was Miami's third-string option the past two years, backing up Mike White last year and Teddy Bridgewater the year before.
Thompson made his NFL debut in Week 5 of his rookie year and started two of the seven games he played in the 2022 regular season. He threw for a total of 534 yards on 60 completions with one touchdown and three interceptions to show for it.
The quarterback was also named Miami's starter for its wild-card game against the Bills the same year, and Thompson put up a valiant effort with 220 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on the day. Despite falling to Buffalo, he helped the Dolphins keep it close, losing 34-31.
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No. 2 Tyler Huntley
While Huntley may compete for the starting role, it's unlikely he'll do so in Week 3. The most likely outcome for the newest member of the Dolphins is a backup role to Thompson while he learns McDaniel's offense.
The 26-year-old Utah product spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Ravens, acting as the backup to Lamar Jackson. Due to Jackson's injuries over the last few seasons, Huntley was able to get nine starts with Baltimore and was named to a Pro Bowl in 2022. He threw for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions during his time with the Ravens.
He signed with the Browns this offseason but was beat out by Jameis Winston for the backup role to Deshaun Watson. Cleveland elected to keep Dorion Thompson-Robinson as its third quarterback, cutting Huntley before the season.
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No. 3. Tim Boyle
Added to the Dolphins practice squad on Aug. 29, Boyle has been in the NFL since signing with the Packers as an undrafted free agent before the 2018 season. He saw his first professional action the following year, playing briefly in two games for Green Bay.
Injured — Tua Tagovailoa
When healthy, Tagovailoa is the starter in Miami. The key there is "healthy," as Tagovailoa is expected to miss extensive time in 2024 due to his latest concussion.
The 26-year-old quarterback enjoyed his best season so far last year, playing 17 games for Miami and finishing the season as the league's top passer with 4,624 yards. Among his 388 completions were 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, good for just under 70 percent of passes caught and an overall rating of 101.0.
In his first game of the 2024 regular season against the Jaguars, Tagovailoa led all Week 1 quarterbacks in passing with 388 yards and one touchdown in the 20-17 win. However, he had an ugly showing against the Bills before the injury, throwing three interceptions in less than three quarters.
WEEK 3 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Why is Tyler Huntley called 'Snoop'?
According to a 2017 report from The Salt Lake Tribune, Huntley's nickname originates from a former coach at Hallandale High School in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Per the Tribune:
A skinny kid with long hair before his freshman year at Hallandale, a former coach nicknamed Huntley 'Snoop' because of his resemblance to rapper Snoop Dogg. Even now, when Utes teammates walked off the practice field as Huntley began media availability this week, chants of 'Snoop' rang through the air.
Huntley's explanation of the nickname isn't overly complicated. "Snoop" explained its origins earlier in the 2022 season via Instagram Live with cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
"Long story short," Huntley said, "I was skinny with long hair. Got the name 'Snoop.'"
Huntley's 247Sports bio lists him at 6-1, 190 pounds coming out of high school, the same height and weight the Utes listed him as during his freshman season. Even with the nickname already in tow, Huntley's hair — a contributing factor to the moniker — was already cut shorter by at least the 2015 season.
