Miami Dolphins ‘dropped the ball’ with drafting Tua Tagovailoa | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

Owner's Influence on Quarterback Decisions

• 💡 The Miami Dolphins owner, Steven Ross, is believed to have had a significant say in the team's decisions, including potentially ending the "Tua era".
• 📌 It's suggested that Ross was "front and center" in organizational decisions, indicating his direct involvement in key player choices like the quarterback.

Dan Marino's Evaluation Perspective

• 🧠 There's speculation about Dan Marino's potential influence within the organization, particularly his ability to evaluate quarterback talent like Quinn Ewers.
• 🎯 Marino, known for his strong arm, likely prioritized a quarterback's ability to "throw lasers" and "spirals," which might have made Tua's throwing style a concern for him.
• ⚠️ It was difficult for anyone in the organization to openly criticize Tua due to the owner's and coach's investment in him, creating an environment where support for Tua was mandatory.

The 2020 NFL Draft Decision

• 🚀 The 2019 college season saw a "Tank for Tua" movement, but Joe Burrow's emergence shifted the draft landscape, with the Dolphins unsuccessfully trying to trade for Burrow.
• ✅ Miami ultimately faced a choice between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert at the fifth overall pick, selecting Tua at #5 and Herbert going to the Chargers at #6.

Performance Comparison: Tua vs. Herbert

• 📊 There's a significant performance difference between Tua and Herbert, with Herbert consistently carrying his team despite less protection and fewer star receivers.
• 🏈 The Chargers' strategy with Herbert is to build around his "awesome" talent to cover other team deficiencies, whereas the Dolphins are perceived as trying to "hide" Tua in big games.
• 💡 The discussion highlights that Jordan Love from the same draft class is also considered significantly better than Tua.

Dolphins' Drafting Misstep

• ⚠️ The Dolphins are criticized for "dropping the ball" by believing the "hype" and drafting based on the Alabama offense rather than a thorough evaluation of Tua's individual quarterback skills.
• 📈 The video suggests this was a "reality check" on Tua's contract and the team's continued adherence to the idea of an unachieved ceiling for his performance.
• 🔄 A hypothetical scenario of flipping Herbert and Tua between their respective teams illustrates how differently the teams' situations would be perceived.