Miami Dolphins fans are desperately looking forward to the NFL 2020 draft. The team are tanking and need a new franchise quarterback. The hope and expectation is that they will nab Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa who put up some incredible numbers in 2018. He would become the face of the franchise but there is no guarantee that the Hawaiian-born prospect will become a Dolphin despite them being favorites to get him.
There are several other sides including the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets who could be in the mix to pick up the first overall pick at the 2020 draft. Even if they could trade some picks to move up the rankings there is an argument to be made that it would be poor business.
Trading away first-round picks in order to get Tagovailoa is tempting but the Alabama star is not the only quarterback available in the draft and could be too costly to justify selecting for a franchise whose fans have been suffering.
Why all the hype about Tagovailoa?
For the uninitiated Tagovailoa may not be a familiar name, but for those following the draft prospects and NCAAF, he is huge.
The near 4,000 yards he threw in 2018 cemented his place in Alabama history but he nearly transferred to USC as a freshman after finding game time hard to come by.
“It was really close I think,” Tagovailoa said in an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show when asked about a potential transfer to the Trojans in 2017. “I wanted my parents to see me play, my parents wanted to see me play. Just making my parents happy and proud was the biggest thing I wanted to do, and I couldn't do it on the sideline.”
GAME. WINNER. DOT. GIF.
The legend of Tua Tagovailoa has just begun. #RollTide pic.twitter.com/wlhjTNCOi5
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 9, 2018
He stayed and helped the Crimson Tide to the National Championship final and has become one of the most sought after prospects not only in the SEC but also in NCAAF.
Is Tagovailoa right for the Dolphins?
The hype around Tagovailoa is not without justification, his presence at Alabama has given them American football odds of +240 this year so they are the favorites for the NCAAF Championship.
If the Dolphins don’t take a man clearly destined for a fantastic pro career then they will need to sell it to their fans. Trading their pick for more first rounders is a feasible argument and could allow them to build a more competitive roster including adding Jerry Jeudy, Alabama’s wide receiver. This would be an excellent move and leave them with more options depending on the picks they could pick up for giving up Tagovailoa.
Fans of the Miami Dolphins will have to wait and see as they may not be the team that gets to pick first overall, but even if they end up not getting a shot at Tagovailoa they should not panic, there are plenty of other options still on the table.
