The future of Tua Tagovailoa remains uncertain as the Miami Dolphins reshape their roster during the 2026 offseason. While some have suggested the veteran quarterback could revive his career as a backup for a contender, an NFL analyst believes there is a unique complication that could make that role more difficult than it sounds.
Rich Eisen Raises Unique Concern About Tua Tagovailoa Serving as Backup QB
During a discussion about potential landing spots, Rich Eisen raised a significant concern about Tagovailoa serving as a reserve quarterback, particularly for the Los Angeles Rams.
The idea surfaced after a fan called into The “Rich Eisen Show” and suggested Tagovailoa would be a strong backup option in Los Angeles under head coach Sean McVay. Eisen acknowledged the appeal of joining McVay’s quarterback-friendly system but pointed to a rarely discussed factor that could complicate the situation.
“The issue with Tua being a backup is that he’s left-handed. Believe it or not. It’s not his talent. It’s not his skill set. It’s the fact he’s left-handed,” Eisen said. “And the way a ball spins out of a left-hander throw is vastly different than a right-handed throw. Ask any receiver. They will tell you about that. And so, if you have a starting quarterback and you’ve got a backup quarterback coming in the middle of a game in a crucible of a moment, it’s a factor. It really is.”
Eisen’s argument centers on how receivers adjust to the spin and trajectory of passes. When a backup quarterback enters unexpectedly, those subtle differences can affect timing and ball tracking in critical moments. Also, the side of the field a left-hander opens to on initial drop-backs is opposite that of a right-hander thrower.
Tagovailoa’s situation is complicated. The Dolphins benched the veteran late last season. It’s clear both sides are headed toward a separation. His performance reflected that. Tagovailoa finished the year with a 72.2 PFSN QB Impact Score, which ranked No. 27 among quarterbacks across the league.
Moving on from Tagovailoa would force the Dolphins to absorb a massive dead-cap hit estimated at roughly $99.2 million, leaving the franchise in a difficult position as it begins a new era under a new head coach and general manager.
When Tagovailoa becomes available, the Rams remain an intriguing possibility. The team needs a backup for Jimmy Garoppolo, should he depart in free agency. Spending a season learning under McVay has helped revive careers before.
However, the Atlanta Falcons present an interesting scenario that aligns closely with Eisen’s argument. Atlanta’s projected starter, Michael Penix Jr., is also left-handed and is still recovering from a partially torn ACL suffered late last season.
That dynamic could ease the adjustment Eisen referenced. Atlanta’s offensive structure would also suit Tagovailoa’s strengths. New head coach Kevin Stefanski runs a West Coast-based system built around the run game and play-action passing. The Falcons also play home games in a dome and compete in the NFC South, where weather conditions rarely create major obstacles for a timing-based passing attack.
Under those circumstances, Tagovailoa would step into a system that mirrors many of the conditions that helped him succeed earlier in his career.
