We might be able to cross the Miami Dolphins off the list when it comes to a Deshaun Watson trade. Multiple recent reports have suggested the Dolphins are committed to making Tua Tagovailoa their franchise quarterback, with the organization even suggesting fired head coach Brian Flores was the one who wanted Watson all along.
While there’s no way to know which is true, the organization is painting the picture that it’s Tua time in Miami for the foreseeable future and any coach coming in should plan to build around their third-year QB.
- Tua Tagovailoa stats (2021): 67.8%, 2,653 passing yards, 16 TD, 10 INT – 7-5 W-L
Deshaun Watson not on the radar for Miami Dolphins
All along, it has been believed the Miami Dolphins are frontrunners once Deshaun Watson is eventually traded. They were the one team he was willing to waive his no-trade clause for before the NFL trade deadline during the regular season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests the Dolphins may no longer pursue Watson now that Flores is gone.
Dolphins team owner Stephen Ross also mentioned the team has no plans to trade for Watson. At the same time, Ross left the door open for another quarterback to take over once a new head coach is hired.
“I watched him grow,” Ross said of Tagovailoa this week. “He’s a fine young man, and he is right now our quarterback and that will be dependent upon the new head coach, but I have a lot of confidence in Tua.”
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross
Some still strongly believe Ross wanted Watson all along. Since Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is still in Miami, it would seem strange for them to move on from Tagovailoa once they get a new head coach. Watson still has a no-trade clause, giving him more control in these matters. We’ll see which team(s) he’s willing to waive the clause for once the dust settles with many organizations needing to hire a GM and head coach before making any major decisions.
