Dave Hyde: A fix or a folly? Wilson fills Dolphins’ all-important backup QB role

If the Miami Dolphins were to sign a former New York Jets quarterback heading into free agency, the only discussed name was Aaron Rodgers. And it wasn’t discussed very loudly. Or convincingly.

But Zach Wilson?

Whose bingo card had him?

If you’re looking for some pound-the-table opinion on why this is a good or dismal move, look elsewhere. This move isn’t even about Wilson just yet. It’s more about general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel, together, two decision-makers making one decision they blew last offseason and can’t blow again.

Say this for them, too: They’re not playing it safe by agreeing to a deal with Wilson. Safe would’ve been signing a Marcus Mariota or Joe Flacco or some other veteran with enough of a track record you could see the plan.

So, in that manner, it’s a bold move. An aggressive move. It speaks of Grier and McDaniel believing Wilson’s untapped talent is worth betting on. Then again, they bet on Mike White and Skylar Thompson the past couple of seasons, and how’d that work out?

Too much hope resides in the unknown with Wilson. His portfolio is the pits. He threw 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in three dismal years with the Jets. Then again, it’s the Jets. Who succeeds there?

Maybe Wilson makes a career U-turn with a next chance like another former Jet, Sam Darnold — you know the good Darnold in Minnesota this season, not the failed one in Carolina or regrouping one San Francisco. Darnold just agreed to a $110 million contract with Seattle.

There’s no reason Wilson can’t outthrow his Jets days like that if he gets in the right system. He’s 25. He still has that strong arm. He must also possess plenty of the good, all-around talent that made the Jets take him with the No. 2 pick in 2019.

Of course, Mitchell Trubisky also was the No. 2 pick in the draft and he found his level as Buffalo’s backup. And that’s fine. That’s what the Dolphins are bringing aboard Wilson to be. Well, sort of. Trubisky is backing up Josh Allen, who has missed three starts in the past six seasons.

Wilson backs up Tua Tagovialoa, who missed three starts last October. He’s missed 14 starts the past four years. Everyone wishes him good health, but the most obvious decision of the offseason is the Dolphins need a trustworthy backup in the manner they didn’t have on last season.

Is Wilson trustworthy? Again, Grier and McDaniel think so. They’ve staked their jobs on it in some manner, because if this decision goes south in the manner their trust in Thompson did last season, that’ll end their Dolphins run. Let’s not pretend otherwise.

So, again, they saw something in him. What? Well, it had to be in a private workout if it’s anything since New York considering he didn’t play a down last year in Denver. He lost a competition for the Broncos starting job that was pared to rookie Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham in preseason.

Still, coach Sean Payton thought enough to keep Wilson on the roster all year rather than put him on the practice squad and lose him on waivers. So there’s that. Nix had a great first year. Stidham played in three games, throwing no passes, but then was signed to two-year, $12 million deal last week as Denver’s backup.

Wilson got a comparative $6 million deal with $4 million more possible in incentives. But this isn’t about a million or two here or there for the Dolphins. This, again, is about getting the right guy for an important role.

Is this the most important decision of the Dolphins offseason? Absolutely. You can work around other positions. As the Dolphins showed last year, you can’t work around a bad, backup quarterback.

The Dolphins’ quarterback room shouldn’t be done here. They should draft another quarterback, one with some high hope to his game. Maybe they get lucky. Maybe, too, he just becomes a decent backup so you don’t go fishing every winter.

They haven’t fished well, either. Go back a decade to when Grier ran the draft. Here’s who they’ve invested in or counted on since: Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Rosen, Tua, White and Thompson. Only Fitzpatrick outperformed expectations — and that prevented a tanking plan from tanking.

Now comes Wilson. Don’t ask me if Wilson is the right guy. Ask me if it’s surprising (yes). Ask me if it’s a gamble (yes). Grier and McDaniel see something in him. His play will say if they’re right.