Career Contextualization

Nobody really knows whether the Miami Dolphins actually view Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA) as their franchise quarterback. The team’s sentiment seems to change by the week.

It’s hard to evaluate Tagovailoa’s first two seasons as a pro properly. Tagovailoa’s rookie year was more like a redshirt year as he re-acclimated to the game after suffering a serious hip injury in his final season at Alabama. In 2021, Tagovailoa was better, completing 67.8% of his passes and throwing for 2,563 yards and 16 touchdowns. But Miami’s coaching staff never fully trusted him. Tagovailoa averaged just 6.5 air yards per attempt, which ranked 23rd among quarterbacks.

Year three truly could be a make-or-break season for Tagovailoa, as his situation has dramatically improved this offseason.

Current Situation

Everything around Tagovailoa has improved. The Dolphins are bringing in a new coach off the Kyle Shanahan tree in Mike McDaniel. New offensive coordinator Frank Smith served on the Chargers staff alongside Tua’s draft classmate, Justin Herbert (QB – LAC). If McDaniel implements Shanahan’s offense, you can expect to see plenty of horizontal throwing, which might best suit Tagavailoa’s skill set.