NFL Coach Calls Out Tua, Dolphins QB 'Couldn't Play Football After His First Read'

One NFL assistant had a withering assessment of Tua Tagovailoa after scouting the Miami Dolphins quarterback.

"I saw a quarterback who couldn't play football after his first read," the defensive coach told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "And then he was on the interception train damn near every week."

Tagovailoa's 15 interceptions are tied for the most in the NFL, and he has thrown a pick in nine of his 14 starts in 2025.

Browns Pick Off Tua Twice

00:13

The southpaw's turnovers might also be partially attributable to his lack of mobility in the pocket. One scout told Fowler he "wasn't as twitchy or explosive as he was a year and a half ago."

"His feet and quickness were good enough and could help him compensate for [a] lack of elite ability," the scout said. "You don't see that anymore. He's gotten comfortable."

The narrative about Tagovailoa predated the recent string of performances that earned him a demotion in favor of Quinn Ewers. He threw two interceptions in a Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and after the game had to answer a question about why his turnovers "happen in bunches."

Maybe Tagovailoa has a renaissance in the same way Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold have in recent years. As with those two, however, that may require a change of scenery.

Releasing the 27-year-old would carry a massive cost for the Dolphins in 2026, and his trade value is probably as low as it's ever been. Still, it's hard to see a path back for the two parties when he was demoted in favor of a seventh-round draft pick.

As Fowler's report laid out, Tagovailoa could have some flaws that hinder his chances of being a Week 1 starter next year, whether he's on Miami's roster or not.