ESPN’s Riddick critical

Analyst takes Dolphins to task on how team has handled Tagovailoa

In the wake of the never-ending Deshaun Watson trade rumors that would send the embattled Houston Texans Pro Bowl quarterback to Miami, a well-respected ESPN analyst criticized how the Dolphins have handled Tua Tagovailoa during his first two seasons.

Louis Riddick, who is in his second season as the in-game analyst for “Monday Night Football,” insinuated that the team hasn’t set Tagovailoa up for success on ESPN’s morning shows.

Riddick, who has interviewed for a handful of general manager openings the past few seasons, said any team attempting to trade for Watson in the wake of his legal issues, which stem from 22 civil suits for sexual assault and harassment claims, would be “grossly irresponsible,” because the franchise wouldn’t know when Watson would be available to play.

Watson, who has requested a trade from Houston and hasn’t played in a game this season, has not been put on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, and it appears the NFL is waiting to see how his legal issues play out.

But with the Nov. 2 trade deadline looming, a Houston Chronicle story, citing sources, claims Watson to Miami talks are heating up.

The Dolphins engaged in trade talks with the Texans earlier this spring before Watson’s legal troubles surfaced, and there appears to be a standing offer.

The Texans were reportedly seeking four early draft picks, or the equivalent of that, for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

If the Dolphins pull the trigger on a Watson trade, potentially sending the Texans three firstround picks, the organization would seemingly be throwing in the towel on Tagovailoa, who has delivered a 7-5 record in his two seasons as a starter.

According to Riddick, who has been a staunch defender of the former University of Alabama standout since the draft process back in 2020, that would be the wrong decision.

“When you compare him to a guy like Justin Herbert, the situations have been totally different,” Riddick said of Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback who was drafted one pick after Tagovailoa in 2020. “If we look at that in its totality, for one, Herbert has been healthy. Tua has not been healthy.”

Tagovailoa began his Dolphins career rehabbing a surgically repaired hip that ended his season at Alabama prematurely. He suffered a thumb injury in his rookie season that cost him a start and impacted his throwing ability in the final month of the 2020 season.

He then fractured his ribs on the second drive of the Dolphins’ 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills, which forced him to miss three games.

Tagovailoa, who has completed 64 percent of his passes the past two seasons while throwing for 2,358 yards and 14 touchdowns (87.0 career passer rating), returned last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

The hope is that Tagovailoa can get Miami’s struggling offense, which ranks 29th with a 16.5 points-per-game average, headed in the right direction.

The reeling Dolphins (1-5), who have lost five consecutive games, have only scored more than 20 points once this season.

Dolphins officials have vehemently defended Tagovailoa and have shied away from discussing the team’s interest in Watson. But team sources claim the organization is seemingly willing to move on from Tagovailoa, likely because of concerns about his limited arm strength and durability concerns.

The Dolphins were supposed to pivot from their rebuilding mode under coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier, but the offense and defense have struggled significantly.

According to Riddick, part of the problem is the team and the support system Miami has put around Tagovailoa.

“When you look at Herbert’s situation, you created mentors in the early part of his career last year in guys like Pep Hamilton [his offensive coordinator last year], and this year in guys like Brandon Stanley [Chargers head coach] and new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. These are people who helped him develop, and turn into the player he has been,” Riddick said.

The Dolphins interviewed Hamilton this spring for the vacant offensive coordinator position when Chan Gailey resigned last spring, but Miami opted to promote George Godsey and Eric Studesville as co-coordinators and hired Tagovailoa’s high school mentor Charlie Frye as his quarterback coach. Hamilton joined the Texans as Houston’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Herbert has had great weapons in Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Tua has had none of that,” Riddick said.

Riddick is seemingly dismissing DeVante Parker, who has led Miami in receptions the past two seasons but has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, and Mike Gesicki, who is viewed as one of the NFL’s top pass-catching tight ends.

He’s also overlooking the selection of former Alabama standout Jaylen Waddle with the sixth pick of the 2021 draft and the signing of Will Fuller, who has played in just two games because of various issues and injuries. Fuller, who blossomed with Watson as his quarterback in Houston, is on injured reserve with a broken finger.

“He hasn’t had the help,” Riddick said. “He hasn’t had the mentors. He hasn’t been in the same kind of offensive system that would lead to him having success that Justin Herbert has had. So, right now, I just don’t know how able you are of making a true, definitive declaration as far as what he is, and what are his prospects in the NFL when you haven’t really set the table for him.

“As far as Tua is concerned, he has not been set up for success to this point, and if you’re lucky to get a hold of this young man because Miami does what they want to do at the quarterback position and move [to Watson], I would definitely be looking into [acquiring him] and set the table for this young man because, I feel, the deck has been stacked against him. Some of it has been in Miami’s control and some of it has not.”