Miami Dolphins 5 offseason moves to build around Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are tied at the hip for at least one season. Here’s how they can find success in 2023.

One of the most polarizing starting quarterbacks in the AFC is Tua Tagovailoa. Ask 10 Miami Dolphins fans, and you’ll likely get a 50/50 split on whether Tua is the guy. For those hoping to see Deshaun Watson coming to Miami, Chris Grier (GM) shut down the rumors once and for all.

Doubling down on Tua’s support has been Mike McDaniels, who praised Tua’s accuracy with plans to get the best out of the former 5th overall pick. Like or not, it appears the Dolphins are going forward with building around Tua.

As we enter the 2022 NFL off-season, the Fins have the most cap space, upward of $63 million. They also pick No. 29, 50, and 101 in the 2022 NFL Draft. If they want to get the best out of Tua, they must add the right pieces on the offense in both free agency and the draft.

5. Miami Dolphins Re-signing their top free agents

Bringing back Mike Gesicki and Emmanuel Ogbah should be at top of Chris Grier’s list. Gesicki will flourish in an offense that uses the tight end the way the 49ers did with George Kittle. Some may point to Gesicki’s pedestrian blocking skills, but with proper technique and a willingness to do so, he’ll be fine. Having a coach like Jon Embree will do just that.

After all, the former 49ers’ tight ends coach helped shape Kittle into the All-Pro tight end we see today. There’s no reason he can’t do the same for Gesicki.

Keeping the defensive core together is just as important for building around Tua. Re-signing Emmanuel Ogbah or tagging him must happen. Ogbah is the glue to a defense that plays a ton of cover 0 blitzes. He doesn’t just get after the quarterback.

The 28-year-old had 39 pressures, 24 QB hits, nine sacks, 15 hurries, 13 knockdowns, nine tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery while leading all front seven players with 12 pass breakups.