Tua Tagovailoa can’t be the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback in 2023.

Whether it’s ‘Tampering Tom’ Brady or Lamar Jackson, rules-breaking Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has to go all-in on a star QB to maximize one of the NFL’s best receiving corps led by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Especially if the Jets acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Packers, are the Dolphins really going to keep the injury-prone Tagovailoa in place as their starter, sign a mid-level veteran backup and simply cross their fingers?

“You can’t count on Tua,” one league source said, citing the QB’s concussions among other durability issues.

The Dolphins picked up Tagovailoa’s $23 million fifth-year option for 2024 on Friday. But sticking with him at QB will not suffice, and it is incongruent with Ross’ rabid recent pursuit of an upgrade at the position.

What? Ross thinks it’s worth a $1.5 million fine and a league suspension to tamper with Brady in 2019-20 while he was on the Patriots — and in 2021 while he was on the Buccaneers — but it’s not worth a couple of draft picks to get Jackson?

You think Ross won’t try to pry Brady out of retirement after trying to sign him twice while he was playing on two different teams?

You shouldn’t need someone to tell you it’s raining if you’re already standing outside soaking wet.

Dolphins GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel have been very careful with their words to leave all of their options open.

CBS insider Josina Anderson recently reported that the Dolphins will explore all options at QB, including possibly moving in a different direction from Tagovailoa.

They can still trade him after picking up this fifth-year option. In fact, that offers potential suitors two years of control at a reasonable cost on a player who carries substantial risk.

Miami just cleared more than $55 million in salary cap space this past week through player releases and restructures as free agency approaches, as well.

One source said if Miami does make a move at QB, he believes they would get either Brady, Jackson or 49ers free agent Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo would be a couple of steps down from the others and comes with his own injury history. But his familiarity with McDaniel and his offense from their time together in San Francisco is a natural possible fit. It also would be the cheapest route, so that’s probably the fallback …read more

Source:: The Mercury News

      

Pat Leonard’s NFL Notes: It would be foolish to think Miami Dolphins aren’t looking to upgrade at quarterback

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