Tanking for Tua worked for Dolphins who draft Alabama quarterback in 2020 NFL Draft
Tanking for Tua worked for the Miami Dolphins who drafted the former Alabama quarterback with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Dolphins have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino‘s retirement. Drafting Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 gives Miami a chance to have another star at the NFL’s most important position.
It took the Dolphins a while to get comfortable with the former Alabama star’s medical records, but ultimately they chose to gamble on his significant upside. If he had made it through his collegiate career with a clean record of health, it’s very possible he could have rivaled Joe Burrow for the right to be the draft’s No. 1 overall pick.
Dolphins fans should be really excited about the elite accuracy he showed during his collegiate career. He may not have the strongest arm in the NFL, but he gets the ball to his receivers in the perfect position for them to produce yards after the catch. Tagovailoa doesn’t just complete passes down the field, he places the ball with exquisite precision.
He’s also a better athlete than most draft experts are giving him credit for. He’s never going to lead his team in rushing, but he shows really quick feet in the pocket. That allows him to extend plays on a regular basis. That may be particularly important for a Dolphins offense that lacks elite talent at the skill positions.
The biggest challenge for Tagovailoa at the next level will be to learn how to preserve his body. He allowed himself to get hit too often during his time with the Crimson Tide. NFL defenders will be even less forgiving when he leaves his body exposed. Fortunately, that’s something that can be improved with coaching at the next level.
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The bottom line here is that Dolphins fans finally have a quarterback they can be excited about again. Tagovailoa isn’t a perfect prospect, but he’s got the upside to grow into an All-Pro quarterback if things go right for him in South Florida. It may take time for him to reach his full potential in Miami, but he was the right pick for a franchise that needs a quarterback to build around.