The Tua vs Herbert Debate is Over; In Fact, It Never Got Off the Ground
Ken O’Brien over Dan Marino
Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes
Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert
All mistakes organizations have to live with.
The Miami Dolphins have been on each side of this coin. In the early ’80s, they benefited when the Jets, among other teams, passed on Dan Marino and let him fall to the end of Round 1.
In 2020, the Dolphins made a critical mistake by selecting Tua instead of Herbert.
That doesn’t mean Tua is bad; it means they picked the wrong guy.
Heck, you can make a case if Miami took Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, or Justin Herbert, it would have been a better selection.
Again, that doesn’t mean Tua is bad. It just means the other guys have been better.
I know any time this conversation comes up, Dolphins fans get in their feelings, and emotions run high.
Don’t be emotional.
Be logical and objective.
Herbert is a better player.
Better injury history, can make plays with his legs, he is bigger, faster, and stronger.
He checks off more boxes of what you want in an NFL quarterback than Tua does.
He did in 2020 on Night 1 of the NFL draft, and he does today in October of 2025.
Again, it doesn’t mean Tua is bad; it just means Herbert is better.
Is he substantially better? No. But yes, he is better.
You can nitpick things about Herbert’s game, but again, you’re nitpicking.
I know the default setting for the die-hard Tua fans who never blame him for anything is that Herbert hasn’t won anything either, or that he is just as bad as Tua, so it’s a wash and equal.
Um, no.
Justin Herbert won Rookie of the Year in 2020.
Herbert has missed very few games due to injury; Tua has missed a bunch.
Herbert has 35 more touchdown passes.
Herbert has played in more playoff games.
Herbert, in playing in far more games than Tua, only has one more INT than Tua. Turn turns it over as much and played in fewer games.
Herbert has over 1,000 yards rushing, and Tua hasn’t even reached 500 yards yet.
There is no debate.
Herbert has been better since day one, and nothing has changed since 2020 to say otherwise.
In fact, the gap between the two has only gotten wider.
Herbert is better, and if you’re a Dolphins fan, its ok to admit that.
Blame Chris Grier; he is the one who screwed it up. Don’t argue with other nameless, faceless people on Social Media about this because if you’re defending Tua, you’re defending the losing side.
And again, it doesn’t mean Tua is bad; it just means Herbert is better.
