The Miami Dolphins traded away quarterback Quinn Ewers on Saturday, sending him to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Sunday, they released quarterback Mark Gronowski and Cam Miller, leaving just starter Malik Willis on the roster. While the primary focus for the day is on dropping the roster from the preseason 90-man list to the regular-season 53-player size, with a deadline of 6 p.m. Eastern to meet the new standard, the Dolphins were clearly in need of adding a backup quarterback to the roster.
They turned to a familiar place to add that quarterback. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins have agreed to a trade with the Green Bay Packers to acquire Kyle McCord. Willis was with the Packers last year, as were head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The ties between the two teams continue to grow with the addition of McCord.
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A 2025 sixth-round pick out of Syracuse, McCord spent his rookie season on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Packers after the 2025 season ended, working with the team through the offseason workouts, training camp, and the 2026 preseason before now joining the Dolphins.
McCord spent his first three years of college football at Ohio State before transferring for his final season at Syracuse. He was a two-year starter in college and finished his collegiate career with 8,555 passing yards, 61 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions on a 66.2 percent completion rate. His 4,779 passing yards at Syracuse led the NCAA in 2024.
He threw for 446 yards and four touchdowns in the Packers preseason this year.
Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared McCord to Mitchell Trubisky and projected him as a third- to fourth-round pick. He wrote of McCord:
Pocket passer with good size who played in a high-volume, pro-passing scheme that should give him a head start as a pro. McCord was too inconsistent at Ohio State, relative to the talent around him, but he proved to be confident and productive last season at Syracuse without that same level of supporting talent. His fundamentals are usually solid and he plays with adequate poise in the face of pressure. He has enough arm to make window throws and push the ball around the field. McCord seeks to attack coverages vertically instead of operating as a “Checkdown Charlie.” While he can hit chunk throws, his decision-making and ball placement aren’t always good fits for his gunslinger mentality. His mobility inside and outside the pocket is average. McCord has good size, adequate talent and commendable resilience. He could find a home as a backup quarterback with modest upside.
Miami sent a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Packers in exchange for McCord. The Dolphins received a 2028 sixth-round pick from the Jaguars in the Ewers trade, but it was not immediately indicated if they sent that pick or their own sixth-round selection to the Packers.
