Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been an up-and-down project for the Miami Dolphins since they selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. After a slow start to his career, he finally began to show promise, but injuries once again became a concern.
This entire situation has fueled skepticism among fans and analysts about Tagovailoa’s future with the Dolphins, with pressure for results growing each year.
However, a former Dolphins player who spent 12 years in the NFL and worked closely with Tua shared a far more positive outlook on both the quarterback and the team’s future.
Terron Armstead Shares an Optimistic View of Tua Tagovailoa
Expectations for Tagovailoa have been extremely high ever since his standout college career at Alabama.
The “Tank for Tua” movement was one of the strongest narratives during the offseason leading up to his final year in college. The idea was simple: the worst team would be rewarded with a quarterback who could change their future.
In reality, Tagovailoa hasn’t fully lived up to the expectations, even after bouncing back with a strong 2022 season.
A significant reason for the growing skepticism surrounding him has been his unavailability. With at least three concussions causing him to miss significant time in both 2022 and 2024, his inability to stay on the field directly impacted the team’s performance and season planning.
Why should Dolphins fans have confidence that Tua is the long-term guy for the franchise?@T_Armstead72 | @ESPNRadio pic.twitter.com/AYVSkgFKSx
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) June 17, 2025
For Terron Armstead, a former NFL offensive tackle who played the bulk of his career with the New Orleans Saints before spending his last three seasons with the Dolphins, the formula for Tagovailoa to lift the team is straightforward: he and the rest of the roster need to stay healthy and compete at a high level on the field.
“Heartedly believe in Tua,” Armstead said. “Believe in his ability, I’ve seen him snap into a mode that looked familiar to me from Drew Brees. That’s why I have no problem making that comparison. The consistency of that, him snapping into that like assassin mode at sniper mode, that’s that championship DNA that we want to see more consistently. I believe he can do it.”
Comparisons between Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees and Tagovailoa have existed since the quarterback entered the league.
His play style, which focuses on accuracy, timing, and anticipation, along with his physical build, all closely resemble how the former Saints quarterback operated, even if the overall results and efficiency differ.
The primary factor remains Tagovailoa’s ability to stay healthy.
The comprehensive list of QBs with a 100+ Passer Rating in each of the last 3 seasons
▪️ Tua Tagovailoa
That’s the list pic.twitter.com/2vaOVQ5otx
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) June 9, 2025
Over his five years in the NFL, he has had only one season where he played all 17 games, and it happened to be the Dolphins’ best year since his arrival. That season, Miami finished 11-6 and fought for the division title down to the final game against the Buffalo Bills.
“I think the Dolphin season comes down to tool availability. And if we can get Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips healthy on that defense. I think those two guys, healthy with Chop Robinson, it changes the whole dynamic of the team,” Armstead said.
Armstead added that if those three stay healthy, then there is no limit for the team’s potential.
Miami is projected to win nine games in 2025, but miss the playoffs despite a winning record. The team faces a division still clearly led by the Bills, with the other two rivals coming into the season with renewed energy. Any mistake or absence from their star players could be the deciding factor for the Dolphins’ success this year.