A new report states that former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores wanted the team to pass on Tua Tagovailoa and take another big-named quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With the No. 5 pick in 2020, the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa. He was the second signal-caller taken in the star-studded draft class, behind Joe Burrow, who went first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
But Flores seemed sold on Tagovailoa as his starting QB. He alternated between the Alabama QB and veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 2020 season and was interested in trading for Deshaun Watson after the latter requested a trade from the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
On Monday, Omar Kelly of the Miami Harold reported that Flores wanted Miami to use the No. 5 pick of 2020 on an offensive tackle. The Dolphins also had the No. 18 pick (via the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade), which Flores apparently wanted to use on Jordan Love:
“The real story – I’M TOLD, never fully confirmed – is that Flores wanted to draft an OT (not sure which one) and then come back with Love at 18.
Flores was never fully onboard with Tua for various reasons, and
@Safid_Deen story about how he roughed Tua up at the combine verifies this.Flores clearly sought a QB who can endure the abuse he saw Brady take from Belichick. Not healthy, but it is what it is.”
Kelly emphasized that the story has never been “fully confirmed”, as he never received Flores’ side of the story. At any rate, Miami drafted USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson with the No. 18 selection, giving Tua Tagovailoa the lineman he desperately needed.
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Miami owned the No. 26 pick as well, via the Houston Texans in the Laremy Tunsil-Kenny Stills trade. They traded that pick to Green Bay, who used it on Aaron Rodgers’ successor in Love.
Tua Tagovailoa Has Improved Under HC Mike McDaniel
Flores was surprisingly fired after the 2021 season, despite leading Miami to a second straight winning season. The move was widely panned at the time, but the Dolphins hit the jackpot with the hiring of Mike McDaniel as the new head coach.
Tagovailoa has gone 19-11 as Miami’s starting signal-caller under McDaniel, leading the Dolphins to two straight playoff appearances. Tagovailoa’s 4,624 passing yards led the NFL last season, too.
The Dolphins will open their 2024 season with a home contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8.
