Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tua Tagovailoa Or Deshaun Watson?

Deshaun Watson or Tua Tagovailoa? This has been a topic of discussion over the weekend. Watson sent a cryptic tweet last week, where he said “Some things don’t change”, which was later deleted.

This caused a big reaction from NFL fans as people tried to guess what this tweet meant. It was unclear whether this referred to the topic of social injustice or if this referred to the hiring of Nick Caserio as the Texans GM.

There were also reports that Deshaun Watson was not consulted in the decision. Houston reportedly ignored the advice of a search firm in their decision to hire Caserio. There is also talk of the Texans not even giving minority coach Eric Bieniemy an interview.

This is seen as a big reason for Watson’s apparent unhappiness and over the weekend, talk increased of Deshaun Watson wanting out of Houston.

Watson has a ‘no trade’ clause in his contract but this is irrelevant if he wants to leave himself.

Fans of NFL teams needing quarterbacks, such as the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and New York Jets, have been dreaming of Watson coming to their franchise.

However, US journalist Chris Mortensen put out a tweet which said that Watson would consider a going to the Miami Dolphins.

This would result in Houston getting compensation plus Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. This would also more than likely involve one or two draft picks on top.

After drafting Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 draft, would Miami already move away from Tua after just one season?

Tua came off the bench in the Week 6 win over the Jets. He has been the starter in all but one of the games since.

He had his good and bad moments in his rookie year but was benched twice, against the Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.

Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick saved the day against the Raiders and looked a better fit for the scheme set out by offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

Gailey is no longer at the franchise after recently stepping down. I find it difficult to blame it all on Gailey. Tua Tagovailoa lacked the deep ball threat that we saw at Alabama but yet Fitzpatrick managed to find those deep passed a lot more. Could Tua’s injury from last year still have played a part in his conservative play?

On the other hand, Fitz would not have scored the touchdowns that Tua scored in the Week 15 win over the New England Patriots.

Some Miami fans fear Tua could become a bust but other fans have complete faith in the Hawaii native.

We have also seen this split opinion from fans over whether they should keep Tua or go out and get Watson.

The Case For Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa needs a chance to succeed. Whilst he hasn’t set the world alight, he has not been terrible.

He has shown signs in his rookie year that he is the future of the franchise, most notably in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Due to the Laremy Tunsil trade and Houston’s poor season in 2020, Miami will have the third overall pick. Along with the eighteenth pick, Miami will have two first-round picks in the 2021 draft.

If the Dolphins back Tagovailoa, they should use these picks to give him the weapons he needs. Alabama’s Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Devonta Smith played with Tua and will be exactly the player that can help his former teammate succeed in the NFL.

In last night’s National Championship game, Smith recorded 12 receptions from 14 targets, 215 yards and three touchdowns. He should be the first receiver taken in the draft.

Oregon’s offensive tackle Peneii Sewell is also talked about as a potential choice for the third overall pick. If the Dolphins choose him, other Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle could be someone Miami could take at number 18.

Getting these two picks right will significantly help Tua.

The Case For Deshaun Watson

Everyone talks about Tagovailoa needing offensive weapons to succeed. We have seen Deshaun Watson’s stats improve this season despite losing one of the league’s best receivers in 2020 offseason.

Deshaun Watson is probably the fifth-best quarterback in the league. He is a proven elite quarterback. Miami would be getting a quarterback we already know is great, rather than a quarterback who may or may not be great.

The only issue that would arise out of Watson’s arrival in Miami would be what the Dolphins have to give up to get him. Two first-round picks will most likely be offered to Houston along with potentially a player or two on top.

For me, it depends on which player goes. Cornerback Xavien Howard is being talked about as a player who goes to Houston as part of the trade.

He would be a huge loss, having caught for the most interceptions in the NFL this season.

As good as Howard has been, everyone knows that the quarterback is the most important position in the sport.

Watson has more of a chance of winning Miami a Super Bowl, despite how brilliant Howard is.

Tua is a prospect and may be exactly the quarterback Miami need. Despite this, the Dolphins have to get this trade done. Watson has proved he doesn’t need weapons and has done all this with a worse offensive line than Miami’s.

Whilst getting draft picks to help Tua is great in theory, is it no guarantee that he would succeed at the NFL level even with these weapons.

If I was the Dolphins, GM Chris Grier, I would give Houston the eighteenth overall pick from the 2021 draft and a first-rounder from the 2022 draft. I would also include the compensation the Texans would require as well as Tua Tagovailoa.

If possible, I would try to avoid offering Howard and give the Texans someone such as Byron Jones, Eric Rowe or Preston Williams.

Watson has a realistic chance of going to Miami and the Dolphins should bite the Texans’ hands-off.

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