Tua Tagovailoa Ranked 91 on the NFL’s Top 100

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a polarizing player. If you’re a Dolphins fan, you know that statement is akin to saying water is wet. Everyone has their opinion on Tua’s play and potential. Some believe him to be the savior of the franchise; others think he should be released outright. I’ve long since given up trying to argue my point on the matter.

Instead, I prefer to listen to what his peers have to say about him. Recently, I wrote about Terron Armstead, comparing him to Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees in an appearance on Unsportsmanlike on ESPN radio. 

We got a further glimpse into Tua’s league-wide perception this week in the form of his ranking on the NFL’s Top 100. The Top 100 list is voted on by the players and as they are the ones playing the games I’m inclined to trust their evaluations. Last season Tua was coming off a career year and finished ranked at 36, we all know how he dealt with injuries this season but that didn’t prevent him from securing a spot on the list coming in at #91. 

The segment opens up with now former Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, who had a career year with Miami last season, singing his former quarterback’s praises. 

“I’ve been around a lot of good quarterbacks, but his ball is just on another level.” Smith said. “You can not drop the ball, it’s just right there, it’s just right there every time… Tua just has a knack for getting it right there and it just fits your hands like a glove.” 

Washington Commander’s defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. also praised Tua for how he’s managed to have success within head coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive system. 

“The way that system is around him, he’s getting his guys the ball now. So it’s really like, set, hut. Bam. Ball’s in their hands, now Waddle and everyone else is doing what they do.” Wise said. “He’s a quick release quarterback. So he has the ability to get the ball out of his hand fast.” 

The question many fans will undoubtedly be pondering is, does Tua deserve his spot on the ranking? As the segment points out, Tua led the league in completion percentage with a percentage of 72.9. You don’t lead the league in a statistic like that if you aren’t a solid player. If he can remain healthy in 2025, I expect him to not only be ranked within the top 100 once again but be slotted similarly to his 2023 spot. That’s a big if; in fact “Can Tua stay healthy?” is probably the biggest question facing the Dolphins heading into next season.  

Ultimately, this ranking will be used one way or another to substantiate fans’ preconceived biases. Those who think he shouldn’t be the starter for Miami will point to his lower ranking than last season; those who believe in Tua will point to the fact that he was named a top 100 player to begin with. I fall on that side of things.

I’ve made no secret about my belief in Tua, and it feels good to see that he has the respect of his peers.