The Miami Dolphins beat the New Orleans Saints 21-17 to improve to 5-7 on the season and record their third consecutive win. And yet, questions around the Dolphins’ quarterback have never been louder.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for only 157 yards, an interception, and zero touchdowns. After the game, Miami Herald columnist Omar Kelly wondered if the Dolphins had already seen the best version of Tua and declared that Miami “shouldn’t be building around an immobile, unathletic version of him.”
Kelly added that it’s not simply about evading sacks, which Tua has struggled with this year, but that his footwork has been off on his throws. He asked whether his hip injury, that ended his college career in 2019, or the other hip injury he suffered late last season, was the primary reason for his athletic decline.
Despite being a Tua Tagovailoa supporter throughout his career, Kelly said “the Dolphins have to find an alternative, someone else they can build around after the 2026 season”
Tua Tagovailoa’s Season
GettyTua Tagovailoa
Through 12 games, Miami’s quarterback is in the midst of the worst season of his career. He’s already matched his season-high of 14 interceptions, which is currently tied with Geno Smith for the most in the NFL. His QBR of 39.9 is the lowest of his career. That number has been in steady decline after finishing the 2022 season with a 70.6 QBR, which placed him third in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
The Dolphins are 24th in the NFL, scoring 20.6 points per game. In 2024, the Dolphins averaged 24 points per game in the 11 games Tua Tagovailoa started. The offense’s decline comes despite having running back De’Von Achane reach the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.
They have been without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who dislocated his knee in Week 4 and was ruled out for the remainder of the year. However, the offense struggled even with Hill in the lineup.
Despite Tua’s lack of athleticism, the Dolphins’ offense isn’t one to struggle with sack issues. They’re 14th in the NFL in sacks allowed per game. But, Tua’s decline in athleticism has still hindered the Dolphins. As Kelly wrote “(Tua) had pocket presence, and the ability to step up under pressure to find his targets downfield. Now that sparingly happens.”
Miami’s Future at the Position
The Dolphins currently find themselves in a tough position. As evidenced above, they’ve received subpar quarterback play out of Tua Tagovailoa, but they’re only in the second year of his four-year deal. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk described the contract as “one of the biggest reasons Chris Grier is gone. It’s one of the biggest reasons Mike McDaniel will be following.”
Miami’s quarterback has a $56 million cap hit in the 2026 season, making him a tough piece to move. His value is at an all-time low and teams are likely not going to be interested in taking on that contract. Due to the Dolphins’ recent win streak, they’ve played themselves out of one of the top picks, which could have been used on Miami native Fernando Mendoza, who’s currently projected to be among the top selections in the upcoming draft.
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