The Miami Dolphins had a difficult decision to make when they were on the clock during the 2020 NFL Draft regarding Tua Tagovailoa. The team was in a prime position to select a potential face of the franchise at the quarterback position, again. It is something they have struggled to find essentially since Dan Marino retired.
The organization decided to go with Tagovailoa over Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert with the fifth overall pick in 2020. It did not take long for people to question whether or not they made the wrong selection.
Tagovailoa started 10 games for the Dolphins in his rookie season and the team went 6-3 in those games. However, he was not anywhere near as productive as Herbert, who set multiple rookie records starting 15 games for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The two will be compared to each other throughout their careers. Statistically, thus far Herbert has the edge. But, Tagovailoa has a great chance to live up to the hype in Year 2 with the Dolphins.
For starters, he is now another year removed from the injuries he suffered at Alabama. He suffered numerous ankle injuries, but it was his dislocated hip suffered on November 16th, 2019 that ended his collegiate career. He was not cleared until March 31st, 2020 and some believed he would sit out the entirety of his rookie season.
Tagovailoa ended up taking over as the starter in Week 6 after the team’s bye week. He had some up and down performances, as he was benched mid-game twice in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick as the team made an unexpected playoff push.
While part of the reason for Tagovailoa’s performance was his shortcomings, the Dolphins were running out skill position groups reminiscent of a preseason game at points during the stretch run of the season. In the Week 15 matchup with the New England Patriots, the leading rusher for Miami was Salvon Ahmed, an undrafted rookie, and the leading receiver was Durham Smythe, a fourth-round pick in 2018.
Miami did an excellent job of upgrading the weapons around Tagovailoa to help him take his game to another level this season. Malcolm Brown was signed to bolster the backfield with Ahmed and Myles Gaskin.
The sixth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was used on Tagovailoa’s teammate from Alabama, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Will Fuller and Allen Hurns were signed in free agency to join DeVante Parker and Preston Williams. Mike Gesicki, Adam Shaheen and rookie Hunter Long make up a talented tight-end trio as well.
Being in his second season in the NFL, healthier and with a plethora of weapons around him, Tagovailoa will begin to live up to the hype this season for the Dolphins.
