By Jeff Howe, Zack Rosenblatt and Mike Sando
Free agent quarterback Mike White signs two-year deal with Dolphins worth up to $16 million, league sources confirm Athleticism Monday. ESPN broke the news for the first time. Here’s what you need to know:
- White, 27, has started four games each of the past two seasons for the Jets.
- The 2018 fifth-round draft pick threw for 1,192 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions last season.
- White took over from Zach Wilson in Week 11 and started three straight games before being sidelined with a rib injury for two weeks.
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The Dolphins select fifth-year option of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a league source confirmed to Athleticism last week. But the 25-year-old struggled to stay healthy, entering concussion protocol twice last season.
The Jets, meanwhile, have spoken with Aaron Rodgers about bringing in the four-time MVP via a trade from the Packers.
AthleticismInstant analysis of:
Did New York want to bring White back?
The Jets losing White wasn’t entirely a surprise – especially as they wait for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision. Even if they did end up getting Rodgers (or someone else), White was still unlikely to return — especially at the rate the Dolphins are paying him. The Jets are locked into a $9.5 million cap with Zach Wilson in 2023 and it would have been tough to allocate that much money to three different quarterbacks.
White was highly respected in the Jets locker room by players and coaches – many, including former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, preferred him over Wilson. He’s shown flashes of starts over the past two years, but ultimately injuries have made it difficult for him to prove he’s capable of being a full-time starter at the moment. — Rosenblatt
How he fits in Miami
White showed enough with the Jets to qualify as a starter with an upside. That’s exactly what the Dolphins need if they choose Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback, given Tagovailoa’s injury issues.
White arrives in Miami already familiar with the offensive scheme; his former offensive coordinator with the Jets, LaFleur, was the 49ers passing game coordinator from 2017 to 2020, when current Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was the 49ers running game coordinator. The fit looks solid for the Dolphins. — Shirt
Evaluate the terms of the agreement
Contract-wise, it’s difficult to assess the deals until financial details are confirmed, but Miami getting a second year protects the team in case White gets an extended opportunity to play and perform at a high level. — Shirt
Required reading
(Photo: Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)