2020 NFL Draft Rumors: Dolphins keen on Justin Herbert, not Tua Tagovailoa?
Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have been connected in the 2020 NFL Draft for over a year but could it instead be Justin Herbert that’s their guy?
From the moment that the Miami Dolphins got the wheels turning on their rebuild, it’s been reported, suspected and expected that Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was their target to be the future of the offense by way of the 2020 NFL Draft. But now just a little more than two months ahead of the draft and a week out from the NFL Combine, it turns out that may not be the case.
According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins, who own the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, do not view Tagovailoa as a “slam-dunk pick.” And to add another interesting wrinkle to the matter, Miami is also reportedly growing “increasingly positive” on Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Dolphins’ reported hesitancy with Tagovailoa doesn’t just stem from the devastating hip injury that ended his 2019 season at Alabama, which makes sense given that his medical checkups three months removed from the injury have all come back positive. However, the organization is concerned about Tua’s overall durability as he dealt with numerous ankle injuries, among other ailments, in his college career.
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In fact, Miami owner Stephen Ross said as much during Super Bowl week, per Salguero of the Miami Herald:
"Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, obviously aware of the thinking among his personnel men, hinted before the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium that the club was not fully sold on Tagovailoa.“I’ve been down there to see him. Tua is a great player. I just worry about his health,” Ross said.He also added: “The coaches really make the decisions on the draft choices. We have to look at what his health is and everything else and see what the alternatives are.”"
In terms of what Tagovailoa and Herbert have shown on the field, it’s no contest. Tagovailoa is more consistent, a better leader and much more of a certainty if healthy. However, if the Dolphins are concerned with health and Tua’s somewhat diminutive stature at 6-0, then being taken by Herbert at 6-6 and relatively similar weight with no real injury history makes sense.
Prior to the NFL Combine, however, this should be taken with a grain of salt. The Dolphins and the other 31 teams in the league will get a full medical evaluation on Tagovailoa, which could quell some of Miami’s concerns. Furthermore, with Herbert’s leadership currently in question, the interview process could change opinions on the Oregon signal-caller.
If that weren’t enough, there’s also the possibility that this is a smokescreen from Miami. If they can convince teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers, picking at No. 6 and 7 respectively, that they have no real interest in Tagovailoa, then the Dolphins could potentially avoid having to trade up in the first round to ensure they land Tua.
Next. 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Redskins replace Haskins with Tua. dark
While we can’t confirm anything at this point, the fact that these rumors are out there makes the situation worth monitoring. And suffice it to say that the Dolphins being more keen on Herbert than Tagovailoa come the 2020 NFL Draft would throw the proceedings for a loop.