Miami Dolphins Top 10 players countdown: QB Tua Tagovailoa is No. 3

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be historically accurate, but he has not yet led his team to a playoff win.

Tagovailoa has plenty of passing yards and touchdowns and an impressive career passer rating. But he feels it’s time to win. In a sense, time is running out.

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“For me, I think what’s most important is I’ve been here for five years going on six,” Tagovailoa said during mandatory minicamp. “Are you not tired of what we’ve done these past five years? If you are, then why aren’t we doing anything about it? What do we have to change? What do we have to do to correct the navigation of where we want to go?”

Tagovailoa is 27, married and a father of two. He should be better prepared than ever to provide a central leadership role and to help turn what everyone in Miami Gardens says is a tone change.

“I think there is a culture shift,” Tagovailoa said. “I feel it just as much as everyone that’s been here since I’ve gotten into the league.”

The Dolphins have elected to separate themselves from some players like Odell Beckham, Jr., and Jalen Ramsey, and some coaches, like Wes Welker.

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Miami is focused on being present, on time, focused, disciplined and more serious about everything in 2025.

Why Tua Tagovailoa is 3rd-best Miami Dolphins player

The Dolphins are a completely different team when Tua is on the field and available, as opposed to not.

Tua is 38-24 as a starter. The Dolphins are 47-36 over the last five seasons.

That tells you they’re 9-12 when Tua is out due to concussion, hip or any other injury.

“I would say the longevity for me,” Tua said of his goal. “To be on the field with my guys is more important than whatever that one play is.

Tagovailoa is Miami’s best quarterback since Dan Marino. But if he’s not healthy, the Dolphins will regret extending him on a 4-year, $212 million contract.

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Telling Stat

Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL with a completion percentage of 72.9 in 2024.

It was the most accurate season in Dolphins history, and third-best in NFL history, behind two Drew Brees campaigns.

How we see Tua Tagovailoa’s Dolphins future

Tagovailoa has two seasons to show Miami he is everything they hoped he’d be.

That would be seven seasons, one more than Ryan Tannehill got before the team moved on.

After that, the Dolphins could realistically walk away from the remaining contract.

Tagovailoa’s super powers are anticipation, timing, vision and accuracy.

Tua is capable of leading his team to playoff wins despite the lack of a powerful arm or elite speed.

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At his best, he is an All-Star point guard distributor for speedsters like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane.

If Tua did not have a history of injuries, his career would be viewed in a different light.

But if he can win some really big games – games against top opponents, games on the road, games on national television, games in the cold – he’ll eliminate doubts.

The Dolphins have not won a playoff game in 25 years.

It’s Tua’s time to deliver.

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa can be elite NFL QB