MIAMI GARDENS — It may have been surprising to some when the Miami Dolphins signed Zach Wilson as their backup quarterback in free agency.

It may have been more surprising when, weeks later, coach Mike McDaniel called the failed top 2021 draft pick of the New York Jets a “direct, calculated target,” not someone they settled for at a position of dire importance given starter Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history.

But part of McDaniel’s faith lies in how he believes he can make something of Wilson’s raw arm talent if he and his offensive coaching staff can bring certain teaching methods to him within their system.

A key point McDaniel, quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell and senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik are getting across to Wilson in his first months under them is to throw with anticipation. It’s something Tagovailoa already had and has continued to blossom in the last three years in this offense.

“Guys with arm talent always throw it late. You have a stronger arm, I’ll just wait and see it. Go back to like John Elway and dudes with cannons,” McDaniel said during the team’s mandatory minicamp this week . “I’m going to challenge the guy because at the quarterback position, you are supremely challenged every drive, every quarter.”

For Wilson, it was actually surprising to receive that feedback. It’s something he says he hadn’t heard before.

“It’s crazy because I’ve never been told before at past places, ‘Hey, you’re late,’” Wilson revealed after Wednesday’s practice. “Even with a strong arm, it’s never like, ‘Hey, you’re late on this throw.’ But here, it’s an entire step above and for good reason.

“They want these balls out before our guys are getting to whatever their landmarks are, because we’re throwing to space. And we have so much speed that I got to trust that the receiver’s going to be there. They do a great job teaching it and helping us understand that that’s how this offense is run.”

It’s how Tagovailoa, when healthy, showed stark improvement in his three seasons in McDaniel’s offense from his first two years in the NFL. And he does it as a way to make up for arm strength that isn’t up there with the Josh Allens of the world.

Wilson has the prerequisite ability to put some zip on his passes, but there’s untapped potential there if he can also incorporate the throwing anticipation into his game. Organized team activities and minicamp presented an opportunity for Wilson to forget how he used to do things and learn this new way of playing quarterback.

“When I first got here, it’s like, trying to find completions, trying to do how I normally play ball,” he said. “Here, it’s like, no, we throw into space with time and anticipation. And so, truly trusting what they’re asking the quarterback position to do — you see Tua do it all the time — it’s like, you almost need to drop what happens on a play.

“You need to say to yourself, ‘I’m going to throw this ball with absolute conviction. I don’t care what happens. I’m going to trust they’re going to be where they need to be, and I’ll learn from the mistakes.’ As I get used to it, that’s almost been more important to me than, I would say, maybe just sitting out there trying to get completions. Because, sometimes, it’s fake plays.”

Tagovailoa sees it coming along for Wilson.

“I think it’s working out really well for Zach,” he said. “For me, I hate that for certain practices you guys aren’t allowed to see the development that he’s made and the strides that he’s made as a player. … I revert to my first year with Mike (McDaniel) when he came here. In a way, this is kind of how it went for me a little bit. You’ve just got to build trust with the guys, trust what the coaches are telling you, trust what the coaches are teaching you because of previous scars that you’ve had.”

Wednesday’s second session of minicamp may have been Wilson’s best among the four practices open to media dating back to OTAs. Although he was intercepted, he made multiple downfield connections with different targets.

McDaniel empathizes with Wilson for going through a high-pressure situation as the No. 2 pick in a draft in a media market like New York. After two seasons, future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers was brought in to replace him as the starter with the Jets. After he still played most of the 2023 season due to Rodgers’ Achilles tear, Wilson was then traded to Denver, where he never appeared in a game as a backup for the Broncos.

“I think he’s come close to about as much scrutiny as one could have,” McDaniel said. “You’re a top-three draft pick, he was 2, in New York City. Well, I mean, I think Joe Namath figured that out, and everybody else is like, ‘Woah, this is a lot.’

“But that’s what I see, is a guy that is playing football with the empowerment of, ‘You know what? I’m strong enough to handle anything.’ A guy like that that’s continually working at his craft who has supreme arm talent, it’s cool to watch him grow, particularly in our offense.”

Wilson is still, by and large, a project McDaniel took in as a priority signing for a backup quarterback. But the Dolphins may need immediate production from a backup in 2025 if Tagovailoa misses time, as he has in four of his first five seasons.

Miami stands to face significant scrutiny for entrusting Wilson over a more experienced, proven backup if the 2025 season goes awry with Tagovailoa inactive for several games and Wilson’s play subpar.