Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Dolphins GM all in on Tua for quarterbac­k

- By Safid Deen

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is all in on quarterbac­k Tua Tagovailoa.

But that does not mean Grier is opposed to some competitio­n for Tagovailoa, either.

Grier and coach Brian Flores expressed their confidence in Tagovailoa moving forward, were non-committal about the return of veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatric­k, and said competitio­n is necessary at every position — even quarterbac­k — as they enter the third year of their rebuilding process with the Dolphins.

"Tua, we're very happy with. He's our starting quarterbac­k," Grier said of Tagovailoa on Tuesday in his first time talking to the media since last April.

Tagovailoa played in nine games after he reached the one-year mark in his recovery from major hip surgery, giving him more than half a season worth of rookie experience he can carry with him into this offseason.

Although Tagovailoa missed one game due to a thumb injury, he played without suffering another major injury or any setback with his hip this past season.

crystal-clear about priorities and where everyone stands. Tua, most of all.

Was it the right move? Answer this: Did he wow you his rookie year to close all other options? Well, he wowed you with his mature personalit­y and his forthright desire to be great. Los Angeles Chargers rookie Justin Herbert wowed you with his throws.

On the field, Tua left the idea — getting benched twice, stuttering against defenses journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatric­k succeeded against — that you needed to see more before anointing him. Maybe take a look at the quarterbac­k option with the No. 3 draft pick?

Grier and coach Brian Flores didn't look. They anointed Tua. They didn't just bet on the quarterbac­k. They bet on themselves. This gets to the line of Hall of Fame coach and builder of quarterbac­k Hall of Famers, Bill Walsh: "Organizati­ons make quarterbac­ks."

It's time for Phase II of this organizati­on's rebuild to make a quarterbac­k by building talent around him.

Grier, to be sure, has made enough good moves to support this next phase. His trade of Laremy Tunsil secured the third and 35th picks this draft (in addition to one of the team’s three first-round picks last year).

That might go down as one of the greatest trades in South Florida history. It could get up there with Dolphins trades for, say, future Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti from New England for a list of nobodies or future Hall of Famer Larry Little from San Diego for Mack Lamb, a cornerback who didn't make the San Diego roster.

The only uncertaint­y here: Is there a Hall of Famer coming with that draft pick? OK, that's greedy. But how about a Pro Bowl player on a roster that needs to develop a few from these drafts.

Crowning Tua, betting on his future, opens up a treasure chest of options for this, too. Do they draft Oregon tackle Penei Swell to bolster the line? Please, no. They've invested heavily in the offensive line. Their picks better develop.

Do they draft who might be the highest graded player on the board? It could be local product and cornerback Patrick Surtain II? The deepest and most-invested position on the Dolphins is cornerback.

The most obvious idea involves this draft having three highly rated quarterbac­ks and more than 10 teams needing a quarterbac­k. That valuable third pick could be traded for invaluable draft picks while still securing this team's prime needs.

Indianapol­is, for example, had the third pick in 2018 and traded it so the New York Jets could draft quarterbac­k Sam Darnold. They got the Jets' sixth pick, two second-round picks that year and another second-rounder in 2019.

So the Dolphins could make a similar trade, pick up a top receiver like LSU's Ja'Marr Chase or Alabama's Devonta Smith or a top linebacker like Micah Parsons. They'd still have plenty of poker chips left, too.

That's how you build a roster — assuming you have the quarterbac­k. That's how smart teams create a cycle of good drafts — assuming the quarterbac­k is on board as the centerpiec­e to it all.

Half a general manager's job is getting the right quarterbac­k. The Dolphins' run through the wilderness for the past 20 years says as much. They're not out of the wilderness, either. Not yet. Not anymore than those playoff years of 2008 or 2016 when they took a big step … only to take two steps back the next year.

Grier on Tuesday said half his job is done. He has his quarterbac­k. He didn't even need to kick the NFL combine tires of Ohio State's Justin Fields or Brigham Young's Zach Wilson, whom they could have taken with the third pick (assuming Clemson's Trevor Lawrence goes first).

Tua was handed the job Tuesday. At the same time, Fitzpatric­k was voted by teammates as winner of the leadership award.

So it's one thing to be given keys to the team as Tua was this year and again Tuesday. It's his job now to go earn it.

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