It’s hard to imagine Tagovailoa being any quicker than he was in 2024, when he got the ball out an average of 2.3 seconds after taking the snap — the lowest mark in the NFL. That naturally led to a bunch of short throws; no QB had a lower air yards per attempt (5.8) than Tua in 2024. Wolfe said the renewed focus on quick passes was meant to guard the injury-marred Tagovailoa against big hits in the pocket. Last year he struggled with a hip injury that lingered into the offseason, and he has a long history of brain injuries. Tua shapes up as a potential top-12 fantasy QB with a sturdy floor and not much upside. Continued quick passing should benefit De’Von Achane and Jonnu Smith, if Smith remains in Miami amid a protracted contract dispute.

Tagovailoa said that the hip injury he suffered in Week 15, which basically ended his 2024 season won’t be a concern - as long as he protects himself in future games. “Doing everything I can to stay available for the guys,” added Tagovailoa, who is entering the first of a four-year, $212.1 million contract extension. “It’s knowing when is the time to give up on a play.” Tagovailoa, who also sustained the third diagnosed concussion of his career in Week 2, missed a career-high six games in 2024. “I, like everyone else, really want him to be healthy,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “You have a franchise quarterback -- you want him to play instead of standing on the sideline.”

“Miami has 10 picks total, including four picks in those three rounds, so they have the ammunition to do it,” Jones explains. The Dolphins signed Zach Wilson as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup this year, but it’s a short-term commitment for the former No. 2 overall pick. Tagovailoa’s concussion history makes him a hard quarterback to rely on, so it makes plenty of sense for the Dolphins to invest in a potential backup plan.

Grier also noted that the team was “in a couple of top flight backup QBs” last offseason and that “every stone will be unturned” at backup QB this offseason. It sure sounds like Tagovailoa will be healthy enough to go in to next season as the No. 1 signal caller after missing the last two weeks of the season with a hip injury. But the Dolphins also appear to realize they can’t take it for granted that Tagovailoa will start 17 games now that he has missed at least four games in four of his five NFL seasons.