NFL news: 5 players who Dolphins need to be great in 2020

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UNSPECIFIED LOCATION – APRIL 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Tua Tagovailoa shows off the lining of his jacket during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on April 23, 2020. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /

1. Tua Tagovailoa

Contrary to his status as the draft’s No. 5 overall pick, Tagovailoa is not a lock to start Week 1 as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback. It’s entirely possible that Fitzpatrick can hold him off for a good chunk of the 2020 campaign.

That’s not the best case scenario for the franchise though. Fitzpatrick can keep them competitive, but putting Tagovailoa under center drastically increases the team’s ceiling. The Dolphins need to find out just how good he can be as soon as he’s ready to handle meaningful snaps.

The biggest question about playing Tagovailoa right away is whether or not his body can handle the beating that will inevitably be placed on this year’s Dolphins quarterback. Part of his adjustment to the NFL must be learning how to be judicious with the hits he takes. Throwing the ball away is a skill that Tagovailoa needs to learn very quickly.

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Any chance Miami has of becoming a playoff team in 2020 hinges on Tagovailoa becoming an immediate star at the game’s most important position. That shouldn’t be the franchise’s chief concern though. This season should all be about letting Tagovailoa grow and learn. That’s why he’s the player they need to invest the most in this season.

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