While some are convinced that Tua Tagovailoa is the quarterback of the future for the Miami Dolphins, it doesn’t seem to be a universally accepted notion. While you leave room for independent thought, one FOX Sports analyst suggests a unique idea for how to handle the Dolphins’ QB situation for 2024 and beyond in his latest mock draft.
Analyst Suggests Dolphins Draft Tua Tagovailoa’s Replacement
FOX Sports’ analyst Joel Klatt on the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show, gave his take on Tua and his standing with the Dolphins — it was a unique perspective, to say the least.
Should the #Dolphins draft a QB? @joelklatt says YES ⬇️
🎙: https://t.co/filgv8YY0d pic.twitter.com/AMcJucZ2YJ
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) March 21, 2024
“Full disclosure, the time of this recording, Tua does not have a deal, and to me, that’s telling. The way I view Tua and Mike McDaniel’s offense is that it’s not the right offense for him. This is not an indictment of Tua in the NFL as much as it is fit,” Klatt starts.
“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. And there just so happens to be a guy that, that is his best attribute sitting there available, and that’s Michael Penix.
“Let’s face it, as good as Tua has played — and he has, he’s gotten so much better, this is probably not the right fit.
“Not an indictment on Tua, but I like Penix to Miami right there.”
While Klatt says on several occasions that this isn’t a knock on Tua, and more about what Michael Penix Jr. can do in Miami’s offense, the suggestion is a unique one that comes out of left field.
By all indications, it looks as if the Dolphins believe Tua is a part of their future, and he, as Klatt states, has continued to progress each year. Starting over with a rookie QB with all the offensive talent they have feels like a step back right now, regardless of what you think they may turn out to be in the future.
Why Miami Doesn’t Need to Move On From Tua
Tua finished 2023 with personal bests in nearly every category. He had his best completion percentage of his career with 69.3%, the most passing yards by far with 4,624, his highest passing touchdown total by four with 29, and finished his second-best QB Rating of his career with 101.1.
By most metrics, Tua has been an asset, far more than a liability for the Dolphins, and has proven through his growth in 2023 and leading up to it, that he is someone you can build with.
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins have produced during his tenure, and with a clear path forward, to suggest bringing Penix in now would be doing so with the hopes he can do some of the similar things they’re already doing, without the guarantee he ever will reach that level seems backward.
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Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this plan of attack feels like it would shock the NFL world completely if it were to happen.
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