If the Miami Dolphins are going to compete for a Super Bowl, it starts with figuring out whether Tua Tagovailoa is the guy.
Two years ago, Tua Tagovailoa was drafted fifth-overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Now, he’s an afterthought in national circles compared to his fellow top-10 picks, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.
As new head coach Mike McDaniel is taking the reins in Miami, the Dolphins have a clear order of business to begin with. Is Tagovailoa the answer for the Fins, or someone to be flipped as a new, more veteran quarterback is acquired via trade?
Earlier this week, McDaniel FaceTimed with Tagovailoa while on his way to officially sign in South Beach. Shared by the team via social media, he tried to instill some confidence in his young quarterback, via NFL.com:
“It’s going to be fun, man. It’s going to be work. But I know you’re not afraid of that. So this is an awesome day for me. I’m damn sure going to make sure when you look back on this day, you are going to be like, ‘Damn, this is one of the best days of my career too.’ I will earn that from you too, OK?”
For McDaniel, it’s time to sit and grind through tape of the 23 games Tagovailoa has played for the Dolphins. Miami finished 10-6 in 2020 but missed the playoffs, with Tagovailoa being benched twice down the stretch by then-head coach Brian Flores. This year, the Alabama product struggled alongside his team early, with Miami starting 1-7 before finishing 9-8, but again missing the postseason.
In his pro career, Tagovailoa has started 21 games (appeared in 23) and thrown for 4,467 yards on 6.6 yards per attempt with 27 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Not exactly stellar, but far from atrocious.
If McDaniel truly believes in the promise of Tagovailoa in his scheme, the Dolphins will spend 2022 figuring out whether his confidence is justified. However, if McDaniel doesn’t see a franchise quarterback, Miami has three first-round picks over the next two years and can flip them, potentially in a trade for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson.
It’s about to get interesting in Miami for McDaniel and Tagovailoa, as the pairing tries to stabilize a franchise which hasn’t won a playoff game in more than two decades.
To do so, the Dolphins must figure out their quarterback question, one way or the other.
