Riggo's Rag
FanSided

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Sifting through the pre-draft noise

By Jacob Camenker

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 33
Next
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Tua Tagovailoa. 5. player. 59. . Quarterback. Miami Dolphins

This pick seems destined to come down to a quarterback. The Dolphins need one to jumpstart their rebuild. They have three first-round picks. This is a strong quarterback class, especially up top. There’s just simply no reason to wait on a QB unless they love another passer who doesn’t necessarily have to be a first-round pick.

With that said, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert seem to be the top competitors for this spot. While I’ve had Herbert going to the Dolphins in my most recent updates, it seems like Tagovailoa has a slight lead in the coin-toss battle.

It’s easy to see why. When healthy, Tagovailoa may be the best quarterback in this draft class. He’s a Russell Wilson-type passer with great accuracy, downfield playmaking ability, and a knack for extending plays to find open receivers or scramble for first-downs. That latter ability may be lessened by his hip injury, but he should still be a strong pocket passer.

Even though the Dolphins have a lot of resources with which to rebuild their team, they still won’t be ready to be a playoff contender in 2020. That said, they can afford to wait on Tagovailoa to be healthy before he returns. Whether that’s sitting out for a full year, part of the year, or not at all, Ryan Fitzpatrick surely won’t hurt them if he’s forced to start. He won’t be great, but he’ll be a good stopgap option.

With Tua in the fold, the Dolphins can focus on upgrading some other offensive weaknesses in the rest of the first round. This will include the tackle positions, running back, and potentially a receiver to pair with DeVante Parker, who had an excellent season without Adam Gase coaching last year.

The Dolphins could wait on a quarterback if they love another blue-chip player here. But for the moment, Tagovailoa makes the most sense as the team’s quarterback of the future.

Home/Commanders Draft News