The Big Tua Dilemma
The Miami Dolphins have a major Tua dilemma.
In the past two seasons, Tua Tagovailoa has given the Miami Dolphins their most prolific passer since Dan Marino’s Hall of Fame career ended with his retirement in March of 2000.
Tua led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, followed that leading the league in passing yards, succeeded in playing every snap (other than mop-up time in 2023, and was named the AFC starting Pro Bowl quarterback.
Those are the facts Tua’s supporters — Tuanon and beyond — will point to as to why it should be a no-brainer for the Dolphins to sign him to a long-term extension this offseason.
But it says here the Dolphins still absolutely, positively should keep their quarterback options open.
Yes, they did make the playoffs the past two seasons and had another winning record for the fourth time in Tua’s four seasons in the NFL.
But the franchise’s playoff drought continues — and, unless, you’ve tuned out the NFL recently, you know it’s now the longest active streak in the NFL.
Here’s the bigger problem: What over the past two seasons should give the Dolphins or their fans much confidence moving forward that they’re ready to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders or not merely a team good enough to make the playoffs but not much more — be the Dallas Cowboys, in other words.
The evidence is pretty convincing.
Over the past two seasons, the Dolphins have a 3-12 record against playoff opponents, including their two playoff losses.
Since victories at Baltimore and against Buffalo in Week 2 and 3 of the 2022 season, that record is 1-12, the one victory coming against the aforementioned Cowboys at Hard Rock Stadium on Christmas Eve.