The Miami Dolphins opened the 2025 NFL season in disastrous fashion, stumbling to a 5-7 start and seemingly falling out of the playoff picture. Their recent three-game winning streak has brought some life back into the season, but it hasn’t quieted the noise surrounding the franchise as calls to move on from Tua Tagovailoa continue to circulate.
Tagovailoa still has a chance to reshape the narrative with a strong finish and a possible playoff push, but if Miami collapses again down the stretch, there will be discussions about his future. And if the Dolphins decide to look toward the future at quarterback, one analyst believes they could turn their attention to an LSU star in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dolphins Predict To Draft LSU QB In 2026 NFL Draft
Through 12 games, Tagovailoa has completed 67.2% of his passes for 2,280 yards and 17 touchdowns, but his play has been overshadowed by 14 interceptions and continued struggles on critical downs. He currently ranks outside the top 25 in third-down efficiency, a major issue for a team that expected to field one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
According to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, Tagovailoa sits 25th among NFL quarterbacks with a 71.8 rating. Even during Miami’s recent three-game winning streak, his production has dipped, with just two touchdown passes to three interceptions, along with seven sacks taken.
With the Dolphins offense failing to find consistency, the organization could be forced to explore long-term options at quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and PFSN’s Jacob Infante predicts Miami will target LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with the 44th overall pick.
“Garrett Nussmeier excels in all the fundamentals: he’s accurate, smart, and composed under pressure,” Infante wrote. “His pocket presence and decision-making stand out. His 2025 inconsistency sees him fall down the board a bit, but when he’s on like he was for most of 2024, he displays genuine NFL starting potential.”
Nussmeier, a redshirt senior who surpassed 4,000 passing yards in 2024, hasn’t matched that production this season, though circumstances may be partly to blame. Injuries and a turbulent coaching environment at LSU have contributed to a more uneven 2025 campaign.
Through nine games in 2025, the LSU Tigers quarterback has completed 194 of 288 passes, a 65.9% completion rate, for 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Throughout his career with the Tigers, Nussmeier has accounted for 57 total touchdowns, with 52 coming through the air and five on the ground.
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At his best, Nussmeier is a poised, accurate passer with the arm talent to hit NFL-level throws, an impressive deep ball, and prototypical size. Nussmier’s athleticism and decision-making are the biggest complaints with his game, but that’s why he would be available in the second round.
Even so, he is widely viewed as a prospect with legitimate starting potential. And with Miami locked into paying Tagovailoa $53 million annually, the Dolphins are unlikely to move on immediately, but adding a high-upside second-round quarterback like Nussmeier could inject needed competition and give Miami a future option under center.