Miami Dolphins will probably need to trade up if they want Tua Tagovailoa
If the Dolphins want to make Tua Tagovailoa their franchise quarterback of the future then they need to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Dolphins have done a really poor job of hiding their interest in Tua Tagovailoa. They clearly want him to be their franchise quarterback. If they sit back and wait for him to fall to them at No. 5, they’re going to be sorely disappointed.
Instead, the Dolphins will need to move a few spots up in the draft if they want to get their man. Quarterbacks are frequently the subject of massive trades in the draft. If Miami elects to take the conservative route and waits for Tagovailoa to fall to their current spot in Round 1, they’re going to see another team jump in front of them to land the former Alabama star.
Making a deal with either the Redskins at No. 2 should be the team’s first choice. Joe Burrow is going to go off the board to the Bengals at No. 1 which would leave Tagovailoa there for the taking with the second pick. Making a deal with Washington is the only way the Dolphins can be completely certain about their chances of coming out of this draft with Tagovailoa.
It’s also very possible a move up to No. 3 would be enough to accomplish that goal. The Redskins are almost certainly going to give Dwayne Haskins another chance to cement his status as their quarterback of the future in 2020. The only risk the Dolphins would be running with a move to No. 3 is that another team would strike a deal with the Redskins to get up to No. 2.
The Redskins aren’t going to give up that pick without receiving a big haul in return though. Chase Young is arguably the top prospect in this year’s class. Ron Rivera would love to build his defense around a game changer at the defensive end position. That should give the Dolphins some measure of comfort if they’re only able to move up to No. 3.
Don’t expect any trade to happen until much later in the pre-draft cycle. The Dolphins can’t afford to make a move up the board only to be trumped by another team that wants to swoop ahead of them to take Tagovailoa. Paying a steep price to the Lions to move up to No. 3 only to see another quarterback needy team go to No. 2 would be a disastrous outcome for officials in Miami.
dark. Next. 5 players Dolphins could draft in Round 1
The best case scenario for the Dolphins will be to wait until the day of the draft to move up to No. 3. That’s the best combination of risk mitigation and value allocation to get their quarterback of the future. The team’s front office can’t fall into the trap of believing Tagovailoa will be there for them at No. 5 though. That’s a great way for the Dolphins to miss out on finding a franchise quarterback in this draft.