Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
A bottom ranking for top pick
NFL analyst puts Tagovailoa dead last among top-40 QBs
In a top-40 countdown of NFL quarterbacks, one analyst has ranked Miami Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa dead last.
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms has Tagovailoa, Miami’s top pick and fifth pick overall in April’s NFL draft, as his 40th-best quarterback heading into the 2020 season.
Simms credits Tagovailoa’s talent and charisma, but is concerned about his injury history and the perceived talent disparity between his teammates at Alabama and his new Dolphins teammates.
“Do I have my concerns if he will be worthy of that top-five pick, and be a guy that can carry a football team on his shoulders and make plays when nothing has happened and all those things? Yes, I’m very concerned about that. But at the very least, I know he’s got the talent to play in the league,” Simms said during the Pro Football Talk radio show Tuesday.
“Am I concerned a little bit by the fact that he got overhyped because he got credit for the Alabama machine? Yes, certainly. Am I concerned about his injury history and those things? You know it, yes I am. But regardless, there’s talent here.”
While Tagovailoa has yet to play in an NFL game, is No. 40 out of 40 quarterbacks too low?
It could be considering Washington
Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins ranks No. 39 and Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who will have to beat out Nick Foles to regain his starting job, sits at No. 38 on the list.
A year ago, Simms had Dolphins quarterbacks Josh Rosen ranked No. 32 and Ryan Fitzpatrick ranks No. 35. Former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was ranked No. 33.
Tagovailoa was 30-2 as Alabama’s starter under Nick Saban, throwing 87 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. He had 12 games where he threw at least four touchdowns.
Simms believes Tagovailoa was not worth a topfive or top-10 pick in the draft, but was still a firstround talent.
He also cites some natural concerns for Tagovailoa, who is preparing for his rookie season.
Tagovailoa continues to rehabilitate from a hip dislocation and posterior wall fracture he suffered last November, which could limit his availability to play in all 16 regular-season games.
If the Dolphins choose to sit Tagovailoa when the season begins, Fitzpatrick would be Miami’s starter.
Simms also mentions the talent level of Tagovailoa’s Dolphins teammates, who may not hold the same acclaim as some of his teammates at Alabama.
Tagovailoa played with five fellow first-round picks at Alabama during the past two seasons. He joined right tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. with receivers Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy in the first round of the 2020 draft last month, while left tackle Jonah Williams and running back Josh Jacobs were firstround picks in 2019.
The Dolphins have only three other first-round picks on offense joining Tagovailoa: receiver DeVante Parker, Miami’s pick in 2015; left guard Ereck Flowers, who signed as a free agent this offseason; and rookie left tackle Austin Jackson, who was drafted with the No. 18 pick in April.
While first-round picks may not accurately represent a talent disparity or lack thereof, it could hold some weight in the discussion.
Simms will continue to reveal the rest of his top-40 quarterbacks this offseason.
As it stands, Simms has Tagovailoa ranked below 32 NFL starters and seven other players heading into next season.
“The kid knows how to play football. He’s a natural at the position in a lot of ways,” Simms said of Tagovailoa.
“And he brings a lot of other things to the table, too, which I take into account. Charisma, leadership, there is something to that. He does have a presence on the field. We saw that at Alabama.
“He can give a team a lead because of that charisma.
“We’ll see how it all goes out, but he’s certainly worthy of the top-40 list,” Simms added.
“And he brings a lot of other things to the table, too, which I take into account. Charisma, leadership, there is something to that. He does have a presence on the field.”
— Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, on Dolphins QB, Tua Tagovailoa, who he ranked the 40th best.