Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a good season in 2023, leading the league in passing with 4,624 yards. It was the best season of Tagovailoa’s career and a lot of it was because he stayed healthy. While he played well, some people still doubt if he’s the right quarterback to lead the Dolphins to a Super Bowl.
The doubts are understandable for a quarterback who hasn’t taken his team past the first round of the playoffs, but it’s also fair to say that Tagovailoa has faced some unfair criticism in his career. The criticism is continuing this offseason, as seen in an episode of “The Joel Klatt Show” when Klatt suggested the Dolphins draftMichael Penixout of Washington. “We waited a long time because I’ve wanted to do this. I did it in my first mock and I’m going to do it again here. And I’ve just been waiting and waiting and waiting on the Tua contract news… Tua does not have a deal and to me, that’s telling. The way I view Tua in Mike McDaniel’s offense is that it’s not the right offense for him.” Klatt questions if Tagovailoa fits in the Dolphins’ offense, which is interesting given the nearly 5,000-yard season he had.
“When you watch Miami and what they really do, what they need is a guy that throws on time, with great leverage, and accuracy down the field. There just so happens to be a guy that that is his best attribute sitting there available and that’s Michael Penix.”
Penix Has the Same Questions That Tagovailoa Has
Penix played well for Washington last season, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. It was the best season of his career as well, but he has many of the same questions that Tagovailoa has.
The projected first-round pick has dealt with multiple injuries in his career, suffering two season-ending injuries in each of his four seasons at Indiana. He tore two ACLs and had two shoulder injuries.
Tagovailoa has had his injury concerns in the past, but put those to rest this season, staying healthy all year. While that’s not a guarantee next season or any other year, it was a promising sign for the Miami Dolphins.
If they were to move Tagovailoa and draft Penix, selecting a quarterback with similar health concerns doesn’t make much sense. The Dolphins demonstrated they were good enough to win games at a high level last season with Tagovailoa leading the offense. While they lost to the Super Bowl champion
Kansas City Chiefs
, it’s unfair to judge him based on a playoff game that had severe weather against the best team in the NFL. Former Dolphins Player Believes They Can Win a Super Bowl With TagovailoaFormer Miami Dolphins all-time great,
Xavien Howard
, believes Tagovailoa can lead the team to a Super Bowl. Despite not winning a playoff game yet in his young career, Howard seems confident the Dolphins will get one with him. Appearing on the “The OGs Podcast” on March 19, Howard had the following to say.“Yeah. I feel like they can definitely do that. I feel like they definitely win a ‘chip with him,” Howard said.
Howard saw firsthand the type of work that Tagovailoa puts in and it’s a promising sign that he feels this way about his former teammate.The Miami Dolphins are being advised to choose Washington quarterback Michael Penix instead of Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL Draft.” on March 19, Howard had the following to say.
“Yeah. I feel like they can definitely do that. I feel like they definitely win a ‘chip with him,” Howard said.
Howard saw firsthand the type of work that Tagovailoa puts in and it’s a promising sign that he feels this way about his former teammate.
