The Dolphins can't seem to catch a break with their quarterback situation this offseason. After being the heavy favorites to land Peyton Manning, they miss out after it was announced Monday that Manning's agent was feverishly working on a deal with the Broncos. But instead of landing the big prize, they settled for former Jaguars QB David Garrard, who missed all of 2011 while recovering from surgery on his herniated disk. Garrard was signed to a one-year deal Monday.
If I was a Dolphins fan, I don't think I'd be too happy right now. First, the team traded their only receiving playmaker in Brandon Marshall to the Bears for picks. Yeah I know. Marshall was, is and, likely, will always be a headcase. But when you don't have a backup plan to fill a much-needed hole you made, trading Marshall without having your sites set on someone else is ridiculous. As of right now, the team's only playmaker is Reggie Bush, who simply isn't going to last an entire season if he has to shoulder the load.
What do I think of the Garrard signing? In my opinion, it's wreaks of desperation. After missing out on Manning, it was time to go to Plan B. Ray wrote an article right after the Dolphins hired Packers OC Joe Philbin to be their next head coach. All signs pointed to former Packers QB Matt Flynn going to Miami, reuniting with Philbin and being the next big star. Flynn had other plans, however, after signing a three-year, $26 million contract with the Seahawks. Yikes. Plan C called for the Dolphins to host Alex Smith, who snubbed a three-year contract offer from the 49ers. Smith apparently declined an offer from Miami, if they even made one because he left Miami without a deal. So now the Dolphins, who had several question marks on the offense already, are stuck with a guy who didn't play a snap in 2011.
I expect the Dolphins to draft a quarterback for the future. Garrard is only on a one-year deal and the only other quarterback with anything to offer is Matt Moore. The deal Garrard signed is incentive-laden, but it will be hard to come up with competent numbers when your top three receivers are Brian Hartline, Devone Bess and Clyde Gates. We could be seeing the Dolphins compete for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, or at least squeak in the top five with the team they have now.
And regarding Garrard's fantasy value? Forget it. I wouldn't draft him as a QB2 in a 20 team league. Okay maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but his inconsistencies showed their colors in Jacksonville. Some might consider him an outside sleeper. And I may have considered that if Marshall was still around. But between Garrard's health, history and offense, stay away!!!!!!!!!!!! Garrard doesn't have a Maurice Jones-Drew to lean on anymore.
