Should the Dolphins draft a quarterback at No. 6?

The Miami Dolphins repositioned themselves on the draft board to get back into the top 10.

Even though the Miami Dolphins still have Tua Tagovailoa on a rookie deal, it is not out of the realm of possibility they could draft another franchise quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick.

Miami initially had the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft thanks to the Houston Texans’ incompetence. The Dolphins would trade down to No. 12 with the San Francisco 49ers for No. 3 before moving back up to No. 6 in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. With five quarterbacks likely to go in the top 10, would Miami seriously consider giving Tagovailoa the Josh Rosen treatment?

Here is the case for, and against, the Dolphins taking another quarterback with the No. 6 pick.

Why the Miami Dolphins should draft a quarterback at No. 6

There are three reasons why the Dolphins should consider drafting a quarterback at No. 6 overall. One, Tagovailoa did not demonstrate he had the skill-set to be a franchise quarterback during his rookie season. That could change, but he wasn’t Joe Burrow last year or even remotely close to being in Justin Herbert’s stratosphere, the guy whom the Dolphins passed on at No. 5 last spring.

A second reason is that the Dolphins have plenty of draft capital to take a chance on another quarterback. If this were to be a catastrophic mistake made by the Miami brass because they didn’t add a receiver or defensive player, so what? They have earned the right to do so. It is truly amazing how much draft capital Miami has amassed because Laremy Tunsil wore a gas mask.

Finally, the third reason the Dolphins could look at drafting a quarterback at No. 6 is the two guys they could potentially draft: Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. They offer considerably more upside as NFL prospects than Tagovailoa. Though Fields and Lance are a tad raw coming out of college, they have higher ceilings as an NFL passer than Tagovailoa already.

Ultimately, it is very likely one of those two quarterbacks will be available for them at No. 6. The only way it does not happen is if the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons take them in back-to-back selections to make it four quarterbacks in the top four. But if San Francisco goes with Mac Jones and Atlanta takes Kyle Pitts or trades back, Fields and Lance could fall to No. 6.

Why the Miami Dolphins should not draft a quarterback at No. 6

Even though the Arizona Cardinals set the precedent of drafting first-round quarterbacks in back-to-back years as being acceptable, taking at quarterback at No. 6 will shatter Tagovailoa’s confidence and crush his trade value. It will signify the Dolphins made a GOB Bluth “huge mistake” last year by taking Tagovailoa over Herbert. Going quarterback again has major consequences.

If Miami were to stay at No. 6, the Dolphins could get the best tight end prospect in a generation in Pitts if Atlanta and the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 were to pass on him. Miami could also get the best wide receiver in Ja’Marr Chase if Cincinnati takes Pitts or a top offensive tackle. The Dolphins can also trade back from No. 6 in a deal with a team like the Denver Broncos picking at No. 9.

Miami was nearly a playoff team a year ago with Tagovailoa and journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick splitting time. It serves the organization to know for certain if Tagovailoa is the guy or not this season. At this time, they do not have enough information to move off him. Though the allure of Fields or Lance is enticing, the Dolphins owe it to themselves to see what they have it Tagovailoa.

While there is a case for taking a quarterback at No. 6, Miami needs to build around Tagovailoa.