Last night, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered yet another concussion on prime-time national TV. After a healthy 2023-24 campaign that saw Tagovailoa start 17 games and throw for a league-leading 4,624 yards, this latest setback has many critics suggesting that he retire from professional football.
From the Dolphins’ perspective, the franchise can ill afford to place a concussion-prone quarterback in front of NFL front sevens again. Their potent offense makes food good TV, which is why they’re featured often on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday Night Football this season.
While it may seem insensitive to consider, the reality of national exposure does place a microscope on such injuries. Had Tua suffered this concussion during Week 2’s Sunday afternoon slate of games kicking off at 1 PM EST, less attention would have been paid to it.
Skylar Thompson now leads the QB depth chart for Miami, and the team will likely look to the free agency market to sign a veteran. Former Dolphin Ryan Tannehill remains unsigned following his tenure with the Tennessee Titans and would be a good fit should management choose to bring him onto the roster.
While this does force the Dolphins to mull over their immediate options going forward this season, the front office must now also take a deeper look at the pool of quarterback talent entering the league next year.
Odds for betting on the NFL Draft are already on the board. The first overall pick is projected to be Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders rated second.
1st Overall Pick In The 2025 NFL Draft
- Carson Beck +350
- Shedeur Sanders +500
- James Pearce Jr. +650
- Quinn Ewers +500
- Mykel Williams +800
- Cameron Ward +1300
- Travis Hunter +1800
- Will Campbell +2000
The all-star makeup of Miami’s team is the perfect setup for an elite rookie quarterback and their relatively low salary. A current example is the San Francisco 49ers and QB Brock Purdy.
San Francisco has been able to resign Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk, largely due to Purdy’s rookie contract status.
The Dolphins are currently operating under a similar window to the 49ers, especially considering the upcoming contract negotiations for star running back De’Von Achane.
There is also the issue of securing the first or second pick in next year’s draft. Based on weeks 1 and 2, the Dolphins shouldn’t have any problem losing a few games this season, but they’ll likely finish no worse than the middle of the pack.
Sources:
- Bovada NFL Sportsbook (Review)
- CBS Sports
