I get what you’re saying Key but “having more horses in the race” as you put it doesn’t work with quarterback. You can rotate linemen, you can rotate linebackers, corners, running backs but you don’t rotate quarterbacks. Sure, you can have him on the sideline holding a clipboard and learning (hopefully) but drafting a quarterback annually is a waste of a draft pick. If there’s that 1st rounder you want, you GET HIM, no matter what it takes…if you truly believe he is THE missing piece. Drafting a quarterback in the 3rd, 4th, 5th rounds…well, there’s a reason they are that far down the draft ladder. They’re not good enough to be what your team wins. Best to get a player that can contribute. I’ve been a proponent for years…YEARS and my post history clearly demonstrates my mindset…you build the TEAM…develop who and what you are or want to be and THEN get your quarterback. Build the race car then get the driver. Tua has been regressing badly since last season. No one will argue that but the TEAM I think is THERE! If we had built THIS team without having spent so much draft capital on nonsense, we’sld be in a position to actually spend that draft capital to go get THE quarterback to run the team. Marino, my biased opinion as the greatest quarterback of all time was drafted to a team that was already built! He had great receivers, a great line, a good defense…Shula just needed a replacement for Woodley. Right now, the Dolphins need that replacement for Tua to take us to the next level…but I don’t believe you do that drafting a player that’s going to spend his time on the sidelines week after week.
I think Tua is a much bigger letdown, because he was also crowned by the media before ever taking a snap. Tannehill didn't get pumped the same way Tua was, as I remember.
In the Tua draft, I wanted Hurts (late in the 2nd/early 3rd) and let him develop a year or two behind Tannehill. I realize that's a gamble because it would be a completely different offense, revamping, etc. But we were blowing it all up anyway so it was as good of a time as any. My other want, my real hope, was moving up to daft Burrow #1 overall. He was the surest thing I ever saw in a college prospect and it was so obvious that the kid just "had it". His poise in the pocket reminded me on Montana and Marino, and I think everyone was so confident around the league. It was a stacked draft class though so maybe two first rounders got the job done? If it were me, I would have moved up no matter the cost...and today I'd make the exact same move. There was a recent quarterback that had this on his resume: - 2022 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year - 2023 Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player - 2023 Finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award - AP All-Big 12 Second Team in 2023 - 2024 Finalist for Maxwell Award - 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year semifinalist - 2024 Maxwell Award semifinalist - 2024 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist - 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Top-10 Finalist - 2024 Manning Award finalist - 2024 Second-team All-SEC - 1st in school passing for 300+ yard games - 1st in Big -12 single season passing yards - 1st in Big 12 single-game passing TDs - 27-9 record as a starter (10-2, 11-3 in most recent seasons) - Back to back Big 12 championship appearances Sounds like a decent prospect, right? It was Quinn Ewers. At most positions I'd agree with you, the depth just isn't there. But there's 40+ QBs who graduate every season and maybe only the top 5-10 get real considerations. That's how you get someone like Marino the 6th overall QB taken- he was like a Quinn Ewers in college because he did not go to the right program or didn't compete for a national title. Every year the league covets the starter from Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia, etc...not because they're automatically better, but they get more national media and hype. And every year several of them turn out to be busts. My point is that yeah, I'd love to move up and draft the next Marino or Burrow at #1 overall. But it's so incredibly rare to know for a fact that what you see will translate. Like I said, I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt with Burrow and I think most who watched that college season did as well. Most of the time it's more of an educated guess though. And one other thing- I'm not trying to make a case for Ewers. I haven't studied him and I have no idea if he belongs in the NFL. I'm simply saying that the odds aren't against him because he was a day 3 pick. That's how much teams get it wrong and I'd much rather Miami be wrong on day three. If you see another Luck or Burrow though and it feels "can't miss", then yeah...I completely agree with you. Just remember that Ross was convinced that's who Tua was; the whole blow-up was for him and in my opinion, we missed. He's certainly NFL starter material so I'd never call him a bust, but I do think we can do better with a long-term solution.
Tua's at 39 and 19 as a starter. Amazing that the difference between winning 3 games or losing 3 games either way most likely makes it a different story line.
I remember me and you wanted Burrow but I do remember Ross wanted Burrow also but the Bengals were not gonna budget. I truly think we would have had at least a SB appearance with Burrow but it is what it is.We definitely picked the wrong guy and now we are paying for it Not a hurts fan at all.He is the product of a great team and would have never went to the SB even with the 2023 squad. Maybe the best move would have been Love.
