The Miami Dolphins seemed to be tanking for Tua this season, but perhaps they were tanking for … Justin Herbert?
According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are “lukewarm on Tua Tagovailoa” amidst concerns regarding his health. Further, as Salguero explains, the team has “an increasingly positive view of Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.”
Tagovailoa fractured and dislocated his hip in the middle of the 2019 season and was forced to put the remainder of his junior year on hold. However, he did declare for the NFL Draft, so he clearly thinks he is healthy enough to be selected in the first round. Of course, health isn’t everything. As one source tells Salguero, the team is also concerned about his durability in the long run.
While the team will continue to do their research on Tagovailoa, they will also examine the potential of selecting Herbert, who reminds many Dolphins fans of Ryan Tannehill. Of course, Tannehill struggled in Miami before being traded to the Tennessee Titans and leading them to a season that resulted in a trip to the AFC Championship.
Herbert was the star of Senior Week practices despite not having the greatest college stint. In four seasons at Oregon, he completed 827 of 1,293 passes (64 percent) for 10,541 yards and 10,541 yards, 95 scores, and 23 interceptions for a 153.1 rating. He also had 231 rushes for 560 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
Tagovailoa, meanwhile, spent three years at Alabama but didn’t see much playing time in 2017. In 15 games in 2018, he completed 245 of 355 passes for 3,966 yards and 43 scores while throwing just six interceptions. In just nine games in 2019, he was 180-for-252 with 2,840 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and a trio of picks. He also rushed 57 times for 190 yards in 2018 while posting just 23 carries for 17 yards in 2019, amassing a total of seven scores.
While Tagovailoa is a flashy option, Herbert is reliable and shown he can be a positive leader and intelligent quarterback. It seems like Tagovailoa’s slide down the ranks could continue as he no longer is a candidate for the No. 1 pick and could possibly fall further than No. 5 should Miami decide to go with Herbert.
