Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa gets a backhanded compliment from an NFL personnel exec in latest ESPN rankings

There has been a growing belief - at least among the chatter among many fans and some talking heads - that Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is good, but only to a point.

That he can take over a game, but if he's given time to do so.  That he can perform well, but when things break his way.  That he can't play well in tough environments or when the elements are bad .

Well, as it turns out, it's not just the fans and/or media who see Tagovailoa as good, but with limitations, but even NFL personnel who share that ( and former ones ).  At least one did with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler in his QB top 10 list .  Tagovailoa did not check in among the top 10 QBs, earning an honorable mention nod.

ESPN had the following to say about Tagovailoa:

"Tagovailoa did what he needed to do in 2023: Play a full 17 games, which will inevitably lead to big numbers. A fully healthy Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and took 29 sacks, a solid number for a quarterback with an injury history.

'I feel like everybody knows what he is: A good player with some limitations," a veteran NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's a matchup nightmare some weeks. He's really good when he's in rhythm and gets the ball out in time. He can be hard to beat when he's throwing with touch and anticipation.'

The Dolphins appear to value him as an elite quarterback, trimming bloated salary this offseason in part to prepare for a Tagovailoa mega-extension.

'Though he doesn't have the big arm and mobility, his short-to-intermediate stuff is really impressive, and I just think he sees the game really well," an NFC exec said. "And what they do around him [in Mike McDaniel's offense] is brilliant.'"

The evaluation from the NFL personnel evaluator - basically a backhanded compliment - is direct but fair.  Tagovailoa had a season that largely fit in line with that take.  There were weeks were his touch and anticipation were next level, and the Dolphins' offense was a machine when that was the case.  Against teams like Denver, Washington, Carolina, and Las Vegas, he was deadly.

However, when the Dolphins faced a physical defense with a good front and with a marquee opposing quarterback who could score points, ala Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo, and Kansas City, Tagovailoa wasn't able to put the team on his shoulders and find a way to carry them to victory.

Those are the types of games in 2024 that will define whether or not Tagovailoa can shed a reputation among some that he's a quarterback who's good - who can put up the stats of a good quarterback - but one who's not quite good enough to carry your franchise to a championship.

Related: Former Miami Dolphins coach rumored to nearly taking franchise on wildly different path years ago