Miami Dolphins turning to Tua Tagovailoa now is the right move

Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins are making a bold, but correct, decision in naming rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa their starter going forward.

The Miami Dolphins are reportedly making a move at the quarterback position, opting to go forward with rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tagovailoa will make his first NFL start at home in their Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. With Miami heading into the bye week, this feels like a great opportunity to get Tua ready for the rest of the season.

While Tagovailoa was obviously going to be the future of this organization the moment that Miami took him at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, the timing of this move may feel a bit odd to some.

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Fitzpatrick has continued to play well as Miami’s starting quarterback, leading the Dolphins to a 3-3 record through the first six games. They only trail the Buffalo Bills by one game for the lead in the AFC East. Making a move to a rookie quarterback now could easily hurt their chances at a post-season run.

However, in the end, this is undoubtedly the right move to make. Tua Tagovailoa is the most important part of the Miami Dolphins. His ability to be a legitimate long-term franchise quarterback will be a huge part in determining the success of this team. Getting him significant gameplay this season will be important for his long-term development.

Let’s be honest, the Dolphins are not legitimate contenders in the AFC no matter who is their starting quarterback. Could a Fitzpatrick-led Dolphins’ team sneak into the playoffs? Sure, but they are not a threat to make a deep run, so why not get their franchise quarterback ready for the future? Plus Tua’s ceiling could vault the Dolphins to the next level this season.

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There are obviously injury concerns with Tua, but overall, he is an incredibly talented quarterback who clearly has a bright future. Getting him on the field to get some experience could be extremely important for his long-term development. If nothing else, allowing him to get the early-career bumps out of the way is valuable. This is a tough situation for Fitzpatrick, but making the switch to Tagovailoa is the right move to make.