Dolphins move on from Mark Gronowski, bring in Kyle McCord as QB roster tightens

The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback room is taking another step into final roster shape. As of Saturday, coach Jeff Hafley indicated the Dolphins believe they will keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, meaning that while multiple quarterbacks were under consideration 24 hours earlier, only one of that group is expected to remain in the final mix.

In the roster adjustment reported by Yahoo Sports, the Dolphins will waive Mark Gronowski and add Kyle McCord. The move underscores how quickly NFL teams narrow their quarterback options during the late preseason window, when roster construction and practice reps begin to reflect the regular-season plan rather than experimentation.

Hafley’s comments, as reported, frame the decision around carrying two quarterbacks rather than three. That has direct consequences for the “bubble” tier of the position, because the Dolphins do not need more than the starter and a primary backup. It also means that quarterbacks fighting for a job can be more vulnerable if the coaching staff believes its depth plan is already set after earlier evaluations.

Gronowski’s release places him on waivers after a stint with a team trying to settle on its depth chart. For McCord, the addition represents an opportunity to earn a place in the Dolphins’ rotation as the organization looks to protect the starter’s availability and maintain continuity in game-management scenarios.

Roster decisions at quarterback often ripple beyond the quarterback position itself. When a team commits to only two players at the position, it can redirect roster space and practice focus toward other needs such as depth in skill positions, additional linemen, and special teams roles. In practical terms, the coaching staff’s view of what it needs week to week becomes clearer once the quarterback count is finalized.

The timing also matters for what comes next. A player waived after roster reduction can be claimed by another club, and if not claimed, may have additional options on another team’s practice squad. For the Dolphins, the immediate priority is making sure the quarterbacks currently on the roster can handle the full workload of preparation and execution during the early regular-season stretch, including film study, two-minute and red-zone work, and practice cadence.

With Hafley’s expectation of two quarterbacks, the Dolphins appear to be closing the door on further changes to the position grouping unless new information emerges during the final roster period. The next watch items are which quarterbacks remain on Miami’s final 53-man roster, how the coaching staff divides practice reps between the starter and the backup, and whether the team addresses any late concerns through additional roster movement elsewhere.