Welcome to the 2025 season edition of Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: Tank for Tua, and now it’s tank with Tua. — Rafael Kortright on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
It’s only Week 4 so it’s too early to start talking about giving up on the season. But, yes, the Dolphins tanked in 2019 to draft quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2020, so it would make sense that they’d consider doing the same for his successor. But it’s way too early to think about that. If the Dolphins reach 0-4, losing to the New York Jets on Monday night, or maybe 1-7, yes, you start to entertain such thoughts. If this season goes off the rails, it’d make sense for the Dolphins to look to the future, meaning firing general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel as well as a change at quarterback.
Q: Tua is impaired from all those zeros in his bank accounts. — Billy Batson on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I don’t think Tagovailoa relaxed after he got his four-year, $212 million contract extension in 2024. He had injuries last year (concussion and hip) and for whatever reason he hasn’t played well this season. In fact, he’s been borderline terrible this year. But I don’t think he got the money and decided to stop working hard.
Q: Is there any way, and I know this is going to upset people, but is there anyway we could write Saban a big enough check to come back and be president of football operations. — dedstrk on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I’m not sure Nick Saban, the former Dolphins coach and legendary Alabama coach, wants to return to the NFL. And I doubt very seriously Dolphins fans want him leading their franchise after he walked out in 2006 after a two-year stint as head coach. I could see Saban returning to college football, but probably not the NFL.
Q: Hey Perk. Rebuild has started. Do we go into 2026 draft hoping to draft a QB or keep building the trenches and go for the QB in 27 when the team is pretty much rebuilt. — Dillon Medina on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Both. But most likely it depends on many unknowns. Who will be GM? Who will be head coach? What do the 2026 and 2027 quarterback classes look like for the draft? It’s always a good idea to look at quarterbacks and offensive linemen. But it’s a better idea not to force anything or make reaches, especially in the first, second or third rounds. By the way, at this point the rebuild hasn’t yet started. Grier and McDaniel said they’re trying to win this year, not rebuild or do a restart on the fly.
Q: With a great line and run game, Tua can look like Goff … something’s seems off this year, he look so different — PrettieBoi on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I think Tagovailoa (five touchdowns, four interceptions, one lost fumble, 87.1 passer rating, which is 19th in the NFL) and Detroit quarterback Jared Goff are similarly talented although their strengths and weaknesses are different. They’re both second-tier quarterbacks in a three-tier rating system. Goff has the advantage of a strong run game and strong offensive line, two things Tagovailoa doesn’t have and has never had. Yes, Tagovailoa looks different this year. He’s not nearly as good. I’m unsure if it’s a lack of confidence in the offensive line, a desire not to get hit and injured, the hip injury he sustained late last year, a lack of practice time with wide receiver Tyreek Hill or something else. But I agree that Tagovailoa, who has thrown critical late-game interceptions against New England and Buffalo, looks different this year. He doesn’t appear to be himself.
Q: Mike McDaniel can bench a RB for fumbling, but MM can’t bench Tua for turnovers? 3 games 5 turnovers. make it make sense! — Rafael Kortright on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
The Dolphins are still trying to win, and Tagovailoa gives them a better chance than backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson or Quinn Ewers. I’m not sure I’d start Wilson if Tagovailoa is benched. I’d probably go straight to Ewers, the rookie seventh-round pick, and if he doesn’t get it done then I’d go to Wilson. I’d do that because you’d have a better chance of winning with Ewers on his rookie contract than winning with the contract Wilson, now in his fifth year, would demand as a starter in 2026 and beyond. Of course, I say that understanding Wilson was a “direct, calculated target” of McDaniel.
Q: Can they win a game before the Saints in week 13? — Eric Dahlberg on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
If the Dolphins get to 0-12 there will be wholesale midseason changes, starting with McDaniel and Tagovailoa and possibly extending to Grier, although in-season GM firings are rare. Of course, so are teams that reach 0-12.
