Miami Dolphins Bold Prediction: Josh Rosen Won’t Start This Year

Word out of Miami is Josh Rosen this, Josh Rosen that after the NFL Draft. The trade in the second round that brought Rosen to the Miami Dolphins was the defining moment for the new regime. Everything was talked about like he was going to be the future of the Dolphins and that the team got a steal for him in the draft. However, early in camp, its newcomer Ryan Fitzpatrick who stands out far above the pack.

Of course in a new system, a second-year quarterback is going to struggle under a new regime especially early on. There are playbooks to learn, developing chemistry, and correcting the mistakes picked up in year one. But what if Rosen was never meant to be the answer for the Miami Dolphins this season? If Fitzpatrick was on their radar early on he’d be their veteran journeyman who could bridge the gap to the next guy. Then from there, a second-round pick is usually reserved for a backup quarterback role in most cases anyway. Just because he was thrown to the wolves in Arizona, doesn’t mean that Brian Flores and company will do the same in Miami. If the Dolphins truly want to wipe the Josh Rosen slate clean, then why not let him assume the backup role in 2019? Most rookies sit behind a veteran while they learn the speed of the game, something Rosen didn’t have the luxury of in Arizona.

Fans won’t like it but the Miami Dolphins sitting Rosen makes a hell of a lot more sense than rushing him into the starter role. Even if Fitzpatrick struggles, don’t expect the Dolphins to switch over to Rosen at all this season unless he wins the starting spot by week one. Unless the second year quarterback can come in and blow the roof off Hard Rock Stadium, his track might be a backup all season long. With Flores and the rest of his regime, we’ve seen nothing but confidence building so far. Specifically, they’ve praised wide receiver Devante Parker and defensive lineman Charles Harris who have struggled early in their careers so far. Instead of calling those players out and saying they need to do more, the coaches are praising their work ethic so far and their skill set, hoping the new regime can take them under their wings and catapult them to their potential.

Look for the Miami Dolphins to do the same with Josh Rosen. Sure, sitting him behind a veteran journeyman QB might not be the best confidence builder but it’s better than the alternative. If the Dolphins go out and struggle, fans will turn on Fitzpatrick calling for Rosen to play, but what if Rosen falls victim to the same results? Everything they’re building for the future will depend on a whichever quarterback will be there when they pick in next year’s draft. A quarterback they’d be pressured to pick because they’re in need, but not fit the skill set of their offensive identity.

However, if they sit Josh Rosen all year, let him learn, let him develop, at 23 year’s old next season he’ll have 2 years experience, he’ll have shaken the black eye left by the Cardinals and can take the reigns of a team with little to no expectations. Which is a win-win for Dolphins fans. Sticking it out with Fitzpatrick makes sense. If he does great, they still were able to sit Rosen for a year and let him develop confidence and skill behind a veteran. They’ll end up with the same results no matter what, which will allow them to dig deeper into the draft to find Rosen’s competition or his back up the following season.

Caveman Rick’s Miami Dolphins Bold Prediction of 2019: If Josh Rosen doesn’t start week one, he sits all season barring an injury to Ryan Fitzpatrick.