Miami Dolphins cut quarterback Josh Rosen from their 53 man roster, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The release was an expected move by the Dolphins after they couldn’t find a taker on the trade market.
Josh Rosen — the former Arizona Cardinals QB — was traded to the Dolphins for a second-round pick, following the selection of Kyler Murray by the Cardinals the following year.
However, releasing Rosen wasn’t as big of a slight as it seems. The Cardinals had just brought in current head coach Kliff Kingsbury and needed a QB that matched Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” system. Unfortunately for Rosen, he is not fit for that style of play and was shipped out to Miami following the selection of Murray.
The Downfall of Rosen
Rosen’s career resembles one of a bust when looking purely at stats. In his only season with the Cardinals, Rosen completed 55% of his passes and had an 11-14 touchdown to interception ratio. His QBR was an abysmal 24.7, last among all eligible quarterbacks that season.
However, not every issue just listed was entirely Rosen’s fault. That 2018 Arizona Cardinals team finished dead last in the division at 3-13. Rosen also did not receive much help from his offensive line, as he was sacked 45 times that season, 7th-highest in the league that year. To continue the trend of bad luck for Rosen, the Cardinals traded Rosen to the Dolphins.
The 2019 Dolphins were certainly nothing to write home about either, as they also finished last in the division at with a marginally better 5-11 record. Rosen never really received a fair shot on that team, as he started only three games (all losses) and threw five interceptions along the way.
The decision to cut Rosen over the veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is not surprising. While Rosen is still on his rookie deal, his base salary is comparable to Fitzpatrick’s. Rosen also has not proven that he can step in and lead a team, something that Fitzpatrick has shown he is capable of.
Rosen’s Next Steps
Rosen will now have to clear waivers before he can sign with another team. Rosen’s situation should be appealing to a variety of teams in the league. While he hasn’t been so great so far, he’s still only 23-years-old with a lot of potential.
A team with an ageing quarterback looking for a cheap backup and maybe eventual replacement is Rosen’s market. Teams like the Buccaneers, the Saints and the Steelers all may take a look at Rosen in the next few days. If Rosen can land in a spot with more of a supporting cast then his first few stops, the former top-10 pick could see a resurgence in his NFL career.
