The Miami Dolphins will now have to evaluate their play after the season is officially finished, and they should start by examining the position that matters the most: quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa may not be the franchise quarterback the Miami Dolphins had hoped for, but not all supporters share that belief. There are alternatives for individuals who came to that conclusion. The Dolphins may not agree.
The duration of the hangover increases with age. the unbearably painful sensation in the pit of your stomach that you are unable to shake. That is the fandom of the Miami Dolphins. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredible to make the playoffs two years in a row. The worst part is that you could have done nothing with that chance.
I was eager to see what a playoff-caliber quarterback looked like after watching the other postseason games following the Dolphins’ Saturday night loss. Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford put on a show. Even in his freshman year, C.J. Stroud looks legit, and Jordan Love was untouchable. Josh Allen then demonstrated why the AFC East is still his division.
Tua’s performance on Saturday night is the reason for the prolonged hangover. Tua was awful. There’s nothing more that you could possibly say. Not only was it evident on Saturday, but also in the playoff games, that December football presented a problem for him.
Tua’s passer rating in the first three games of December was 116. That fell to 70 in the final three games of the season. Strangely, the opponents that the final three games were against were playoff contenders. Tua had an MVP-caliber debut performance at the start of the season. It was evident to all that a player on the verge of breakthrough was there. However, when we examine the two seasons of employment, Tua is designed to perform in September and October. The issue is that November and December—the two most difficult months of his career—are when championships are won.
Consider this: Due to Tua’s injury, Miami Dolphins third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson was forced to start the team’s playoff game last year and ended up with more passing yards than Tua had against the Chiefs. Despite the fact that both games were played outside in subfreezing temperatures, Skylar came within one play of surprising the Bills.
What’s the point of this? Although I believe Tua to be a kind man and a reliable quarterback, he is not the franchise quarterback that the Miami Dolphins desire or deserve. The Dolphins have three possibilities that are worth taking into account.
The Miami Dolphins may consider trading Tua Tagovailoa if they decide against keeping him.
Sadly, there aren’t any impressive quarterbacks available this offseason. Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers generated a lot of buzz during the previous offseason. It’s difficult to find quarterbacks, and scouting the league reveals that there aren’t many worth dealing for.
AFC East: There are no worthy candidates
Russell Wilson’s contract with the AFC West is nontransferable and illogical given his performance.
AFC North: nobody is on duty
AFC South: Nobody to give any thought to
NFCE: Is Dak a viable option? The Cowboys will not rebuild, and Daniel Jones will not be appreciated.
Kyler Murray of the NFC West is quicker than Tua, but he doesn’t commit to his playbook.
NFC South: Not a candidate to take seriously
NFC North: Chicago is facing an intriguing issue.
There is technically just one possibility to investigate by process of elimination, and that is with the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields was selected by the Bears eleventh overall in the 2021 draft. The intriguing issue at hand is that, thanks to their trade with Carolina last year, the Bears now own the first overall pick.
Fields would be available to a team searching for a solution if the Bears choose to choose a quarterback with the first overall pick.
Miami needs to be interested—you have to be. Fields is a quarterback who thrives in cold climates; he played college and professional football in Ohio before moving to windy Chicago. You don’t have to be concerned about Fields adjusting to the cold or playing in it, unlike Tua.
Fields embodies the epitome of a dual threat quarterback—a quality Miami has never possessed. Pat White is not included. Consider the playbook options of Mike McDaniel with Fields; this would introduce a bootleg element that would not be possible with Tua.
It’s a thrilling choice. Fields’ contract is still that of a rookie for the upcoming season. Since the Dolphins selected him in the first round, they also have the option to take up his fifth year and keep him under supervision for the following two years.
The Bears’ decision will determine how a deal would go. The Fields for Tua trade makes sense, in my opinion, if the Bears are intent on using the first overall choice to acquire a quarterback. The Dolphins can acquire a young, intriguing possibility in Mike McDaniel, while the Bears can acquire a seasoned quarterback who can aid in developing a young player.
Kirk Cousins
In an attempt to reduce his age at quarterback, the Minnesota Vikings will let Cousins explore his options as a free agency. Depending on his contract demands, Cousin might be a Miami Dolphins option if that occurs. Cousins recently recovered from a horrific injury that kept him out of the NFL for a significant chunk of the previous campaign.
Keep in mind that this is an elderly veteran who may have injuries. Will Cousin pursue a final salary or consider joining a team that has qualified for the playoffs year after year in search of a captain to help them win it all?
Cousins may have many suitors, and to be honest, they are more experienced in cold climates and have stronger arms than Tua. For this to be successful, the contract must be correct.
Baker Mayfield
What I find most appealing about Mayfield is this. This quarterback was rejected in Cleveland after being selected first overall in the draft. then circulated as a second or perhaps third string option across the league. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were successfully brought to the playoffs this past season, where they defeated the NFC defending champs.
If the two sides can’t agree, is Miami a possibility even though I don’t think the Bucs will let Mayfield go undrafted?
Baker has powerful arms. He’s matured and is comfortable in the locker rooms, unlike his rookie years. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle can be satisfied by Baker spreading the ball about, as he has done this season with Mike Evans and Chris Goodwin.
Given Baker’s season, this is a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
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