Miami Dolphins: 3 reasons Tua Tagovailoa will be a top 10 QB in 2021
By Jeremy Klump
No. 2: Tua Tagovailoa has weapons
Not only was Tua Tagovailoa not healthy last season, but he also had no legitimate weapons. I know some people will say he had Devante Parker and Mike Gesicki, but I have some thoughts on this.
While Parker is a solid receiving option, he is not a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, in my opinion. And if you don’t want to take my opinion, take the Miami Dolphins’ opinion. They signed wide receiver Will Fuller V, who will be the No. 1 target for Tagovailoa in 2021, and drafted former Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle, with the No. 6 overall pick.
If Miami had a legit No. 1 receiver, their two most significant moves this offseason would not have been to improve the receiver room, a room that was lacking. Preston Williams may be a fan favorite, be he is not a weapon you can count on, and then Tagovailoa also had receiver Jakeem Grant, who may not even make the roster this season.
In 2021, Tagovailoa will have Fuller, Waddle, and Parker as his top three receivers. Then, 2020 COVID-19 opt-out wide receiver Albert Wilson is back and has been ballin’ during training camp (and proving me wrong), and Tagovailoa has future impact player Lynn Bowden Jr. as well.
It will be interesting to see how the receiver room finalizes, but these five guys should all carve out significant roles for the offense, which is excellent news for Tagovailoa.
Then you look at Gesicki, who was solid last year but not an elite tight end yet. I think Gesicki is on the cusp of showing that he is one of the top tight ends in the NFL and has a chance to become a top-five guy this season. Adding him as one of the top targets, paired with those five receivers, will be huge for Tagovailoa’s progression this season.
Obviously, the offensive line and RB1 Myles Gaskin will need to stay healthy and progress, but it is refreshing to know that Miami has given Tagovailoa weapons to help him become a top ten quarterback in the NFL.