Alabama southpaw quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was, no surprise, the Miami Dolphins' first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, going No. 5 in April. What's next for the new Fins signal-caller, though, is still to be determined, but wily veteran gunslinger Ryan Fitzpatrick promises to help the neophyte from Hawaii on his professional journey.
Via the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley on Twitter:
“I know that in order for our team to be successful … our QB room has to be successful,” Fitzpatrick told reporters on Thursday.
Fitz on starting: "I know that in order for our team to be successful … our QB room has to be successful." Reiterates that he's going to help Tua however he needs "but I want to be out there on Sundays."
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) May 21, 2020
Fitzpatrick, 37, still has some football left in him, signaled by his desire to keep starting on Sundays next season and in the past with his 2019 campaign with Miami. The journeyman quarterback made 13 starts last season with the Dolphins, going 5-8 in his performances while tossing over 3,500 passing yards for 20 touchdowns and 13 picks.
For Miami, Fitzpatrick represents a veteran option at the quarterback position while rookie Tagovailoa enters his professional career coming off his NCAA career-ending hip injury in Tuscaloosa. For Tagovailoa, however, Fitzpatrick is a been-there, done-that veteran to mentor the ‘Bama national champion while adjusting to his brand new life.
Fitzpatrick could have mentored second-year quarterback Josh Rosen this past season with the Dolphins, but plans differed for the former No. 10 pick for the Arizona Cardinals who, after arriving to South Beach the prior offseason, appears already on his way out—perhaps onto a third team in that many years, a rather puzzling NFL journey.
Should Tagovailoa hope to be the Dolphins' next franchise savior, he's going to need all the help and advice he can get—and Fitzpatrick is one starting point.
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