The Miami Dolphins traded a 2028 sixth-round pick to Green Bay for quarterback Kyle McCord. He will slot in as the primary backup behind new starter Malik Willis.
McCord had been buried on the Packers depth chart behind Jordan Love, and his skill set was never going to get real reps in Green Bay. Miami gives him a legitimate opportunity to compete for meaningful snaps if Willis gets hurt.
The Dolphins are in an interesting spot. Tua Tagovailoa’s career is essentially over due to concussion history, which is why Willis is the guy now. But Willis has never been a proven starter, which is why the backup role suddenly matters a lot.
McCord had some encouraging moments in college at Syracuse after leaving Ohio State. He can spin it and has a decent understanding of NFL concepts. He was a rare bright spot in a Packers preseason that mostly focused on evaluating young defensive players.
For Miami, this move is about insurance. Their entire season is riding on Willis proving he can lead an NFL offense, and if he cannot, they need a backup who can at least keep the ship afloat.
The Dolphins are going to look completely different from the Tua era. Willis is a mobile quarterback whose skill set demands play-action, designed runs, and a completely reworked offensive system. Mike McDaniel has his hands full.
McCord is a more traditional pocket passer, which gives Miami two very different flavors at the position. If Willis goes down, the offense will change dramatically but at least it will still function.
Green Bay was smart to get anything for McCord since he was probably going to be released. A sixth-round pick two years out is not much, but it is more than nothing.
The Dolphins are quietly building depth at every position after last year’s injury nightmare. This is not a splashy move but it is the kind of transaction good teams make.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
