Currently – April 29, 2019 – Rosen really looks out of the
running to be behind centre when Miami kick off the 2019 season at
home to the Ravens. At +120 odds, that's a probability of 45.5%.
YES +120
NO -160
The likely alternative, Ryan Fitzpatrick, finished 2018 with 2366
passing yards on 246 throws with 164 completions, and a completion
percentage of 66.7%. however if you've followed Fitzpatrick's career
you'll be aware the issue with his game is interceptions, and he
didn't disappoint with those in 2018. Fitz finished 2018 with a
TD:INT ratio of 17:12, not entirely abysmal, but at the helm of a
highly talented Buccs offense, typified by Mike Evans, Adam
Humphries, Chris Godwin and speedster DeSean Jackson, more was
obviously expected. Ultimately Fitzy was benched twice in favor of
Jameis Winston, despite the off-field issues the latter was battling
with. Not exactly a note of confidence for Fitzpatrick going forward.
The Dolphins coaches have been adamant Rosen will be “competing” for the role under centre, despite trading a valuable 2019 2nd round pick whilst being in the middle of a pretty seismic rebuild, that's included jettisoning starter QB and former 1st round pick, Ryan Tannehill; long-time and highly prolific contributor Cam Wake; 2018 trade acquisition Robert Quinn, and a slew of others that were let walk after expiring contracts.
Taking Rosen flew in the face of this strategy underlining the esteem
the new coaching room held Rosen in. Pre-Draft reports were adamant
no team had being more comprehensive in their evaluation of Rosen
than Miami, so this is very much a team that values the former-UCLA
signal caller.
Ajudging Rosen to have had a bad rookie season, whilst materially
true, has to be weighed against the fact he was throwing to some
decidedly sub-standard receivers in 2018. Even likely HOFer Larry
Fitzgerald had, by his standards, a decidedly subpar season.
Fitzpatrick by contrast had perhaps one of the most talented receiver
rooms in the league, and still managed to get himself benched a
couple times and throw 12 interceptions to Rosen's 14, despite
starting in 5 less games!
The likelihood new Dolphins HC Flores opts for the experience of
Fitzpatrick in week 1 remains a strong possibility however. The
Dolphins face the Baltimore Ravens in week 1, a team they have an
abysmal record against, with a 0-4 record on the road and a 4-5
record at home. However the Ravens are experiencing something of
their own rebuild, after trading away Joe Flacco, letting longtime
defensive lynchpin Terrell Suggs walk, choosing to release Eric
Weddle, and losing Za'Darius Smith and C.J. Mosley to free agency.
Those loses on defense alone represent the rump of what made the
Ravens D the force it was in 2018, and will be sorely missed.