Miami Dolphins training camp preview: What’s at stake for Tua Tagovailoa? – Miami Dolphins Blog

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins open 2022 training camp on Tuesday at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

Who is the player with the most to prove? quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

The narrative surrounding him following the Dolphins’ flurry of offseason additions is that 2022 is a make-or-break season for the third-year quarterback. That’s not entirely true; Miami’s decision-makers aren’t expecting the type of leap Buffalo’s Josh Allen made in his third season, when he finished second in league MVP voting, but Tagovailoa still needs to prove he is a viable long-term starter before the Dolphins decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option by May 2023.

With the best supporting cast he’s had in the NFL, there is reason to believe he can succeed under first-year coach Mike McDaniel. But if Tagovailoa is mediocre this season, the Dolphins have the resources to move up for a quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft if needed. Miami owns five picks in the first three rounds, and made it a point to keep them during trade discussions this offseason.

Who is the most impactful offseason addition? left tackle Terron Armstead

There are a few candidates here, starting with receiver Tyreek Hill and McDaniel. But the biggest offseason addition Miami made was signing Armstead.

While he doesn’t single-handedly solve the Dolphins’ pass-blocking issues from a season ago — 32nd in pass block win rate according to NFL Next Gen Stats — he does immediately improve the left side of the offensive line and adds a Pro Bowl-caliber player to a position group that was desperate for veteran leadership. His tutelage will be invaluable throughout the summer and season, and Miami’s offensive success hinges on the play of its offensive line.

What is the fiercest fantasy-relevant battle? running back

Miami has four running backs who could produce RB2 numbers if they were the featured back. Unfortunately there’s only one ball, so Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel and Myles Gaskin will have to compete for touches in what might be the most crowded backfield in the NFL. Mostert is still recovering from a late-season knee injury and might not be ready for Week 1. That means Edmonds, Michel or Gaskin could establish himself as the lead back early in the season.

While this backfield could turn into a committee, the lead runner in McDaniel’s San Francisco offenses flirted with RB1 fantasy production. Edmonds, in particular, is enticing because of his versatility as a runner and receiver.

Camp prediction: Left tackle Austin Jackson will close training camp as a starter. I know — how bold is it to predict a two-year starter and former first-round pick will start once again? But Jackson struggled enough at left tackle last season that the Dolphins moved him to guard in Week 5. Many fans felt like the team should move on from Jackson but this new coaching staff feels like he has untapped potential. The third-year pro will have to battle with Larnel Coleman, Liam Eichenberg and Michael Deiter for two open jobs on the offensive line, but he will flash that potential in a major way this summer.