It feels like the 2020 NFL combine was a lifetime ago, especially with all that’s happened in the world since then. But if you try really hard, you’ll remember this nugget that leaked out of Indianapolis and suggested the Miami Dolphins weren’t as interested in Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as the general public may have assumed.
Tagovailoa was surprised he received a bit of a cold shoulder. He left feeling uncertain about the Dolphins and their desire for him to be their next franchise quarterback, a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday.
But this is draft season, after all. And what would draft season be if it wasn’t full of lies and smokescreens?
It appears that’s what was happening with this whole ‘Miami not wanting Tagovailoa’ nonsense. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins’ interest in the Alabama lefty is very real. In fact, they attempted to meet with the expected top-five pick prior to the NFL banning prospect visits because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“In pre-draft news: Last week, when the Dolphins brought in players before the league closed facilities, a source said their first call was to Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa to try to bring him in,” Rapoport tweeted. “The logistics didn’t work out for a visit, but that was their goal. Miami picks No. 5.”
The Dolphins began the 2019 regular season with what appeared to be a ‘Tank for Tua’ campaign with how terrible they played in September. They won a few unexpected games later in the year and ‘fell’ to the fifth pick, but Tagovailoa, who suffered a devastating hip injury in November, is expected to fall to their selection.
It would be a shock if Miami passes on Tagovailoa in the first round. There’s a good chance they’ll actually trade up for him, too. With Ryan Fitzpatrick on the roster for another season — and more than capable of starting and winning games for them in 2020 — Miami can redshirt Tagovailoa for one season and anoint him as the franchise quarterback in 2021.
