Until Kyler Murray replaced Josh Rosen a year after he was drafted, we always looked at young quarterback prospects as developing projects. Usually, quarterbacks have to prove that they are the franchise guy throughout the life of their rookie deal. In Tua’s case, he has never been afforded the luxury of being able just to ball and learn the game. From day one, it’s always been one controversial take after another about if he was the right choice. Watson, Herbert, hip injury, benching, and trades are all associated as keywords with Tua. Tua has always had the pressure to need to prove everything to his doubters.
Between a fan base that has been starved of good quarterback play since Dan Marino and controversy surrounding replacement due to the previous regime not committing to Tua from the start, it’s hard to get an unbiased take on Tua. We don’t know what Tua is because the investment hasn’t been made until Mike McDaniel became head coach.
There is potential to compare Tua to quarterbacks around the league in his first two years. But for some reason, a lot of the NFL fan base doesn’t see the potential. It’s either he’s too small, lacks arm talent, decision-making is an unknown compared to other elite availability or does not compare to his draft class. But we can compare him to each of these categories and see he’s not far off.
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Tua Tagovailoa’s first two years (23 games): 66.2% completion percentage, 4467 yards, 27 TDS, 15 INTs
Quarterbacks considered small stature through two years:
Russel Wilson ( 32 games): 63.5% completion percentage, 6475 yards, 52TDs, 19 INTs
Baker Mayfield (30 games): 61.6% completion percentage, 7752 yards, 49TDs, 35 INTs
Drew Brees (27 games): 59.2% completion percentage, 5392 yards, 28TDs, 31 INTs
Quarterbacks considered a bust/ underperformed after two years:
Josh Allen (27 games): 55.8% completion percentage, 5163 yards, 30 TDs, 21 INTs
Payton Manning (32 games): 59.4% completion percentage, 7874 yards, 52 Tds, 43 INTs
Greatest quarterback to ever play after two years:
Tom Brady (30 games): 63% completion percentage, 6607 yards, 46TDs, 26 ints.
These quarterbacks have made playoff runs; some have won Super Bowls. Statistically, Tua compares well with everyone on this list and, in some categories, outperforms through the first two years. These quarterbacks listed didn’t go through a circus of media distraction due to trade allegations. These Quarterbacks had teams that stuck with them and built around their strengths for them to succeed. While some criticism of Tua is fair, a lot of it is blown out of proportion because everyone expects instant success. With the team, Miami has built through this year’s free agency and a head coach in Mike McDaniel that openly supports Tua and shoots any negative report down, I believe there will be a lot of improvement from Miami’s young quarterback. Because he finally has the support needed to succeed.
People forget that football is a team sport and systems matter. It doesn’t matter how talented a player is; there is no success if the system doesn’t work. Miami’s fan base is starved for success, but you don’t get a good meal from a microwaved dinner; you won’t get a developed quarterback without investing in him. Ultimately I think the harsh judgment Tua has received while dealing with limiting factors is unfair, and we should wait until we see what he can do with support before we judge.
If you have to continually cover for Tua you know he’s not the guy.
We who know how to evaluate franchise QB already know Tua isn’t the guy. The writer obviously likes Tua and can’t see how bad he really is. More excused while other teams in the AFC with franchise QB’s are head and shoulders better than the Miami Lolphins will ever be. Wake up moron!
I think the thing that gets overlooked is that Tua won a NCAA championship at Alabama. He played and succeeded against the best college players in the country. So he knows how to win. Now he is getting complimentary players who can help him succeed. My only caution is he is injury prone so the Dolphins got a very good qb as his backup. Teddy Bridgewater being available will allow the Dolphins to let Tua play and know if he goes down with an injury for a few games the team can still win.
Lowest in TDS and yards on the list , but compares favorably. OKAY,. I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn too.
What a difference two games makes. Just one win in each of the last two years and Phins make playoffs both years. That would be two for Tua and the criticism would be far less. Most of those guys on the list didn’t make playoffs first two years,
as did neither “boy wonder” Herbert. Winning sure shuts up a lot of talking heads. It’s time for Tua to shine. It’s all there now.
I hope he gets the arm strength he had in Alabama back.