Ryan Fitzpatrick Favored to Be Dolphins Starting QB in Week 1, Tua Given Next-Best Odds
- Ryan Fitzpatrick is the favorite to be the Dolphins’ starting quarterback in Week 1
- The oddsmakers like the chances of Miami drafting Tua Tagovailoa
- The odds for all of Miami’s potential Week 1 starters can be found below.
The Miami Dolphins were supposed to be “Tanking for Tua” when last season began, according to many analysts.
Some prognosticators felt the Dolphins might go 0-16 in hopes of getting the first pick in this year’s NFL Draft and selecting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Instead, following an 0-7 start, the Dolphins won five of their last nine games with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm to finish 5-11. They have the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, which begins April 23.
Who will be the Dolphins’ quarterback this upcoming season? Oddsmakers currently favor the incumbent.
Miami Dolphins’ 2020 Week 1 Starting Quarterback Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | -134 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | +160 |
| Justin Herbert | +450 |
| Cam Newton | +1600 |
| Andrew Dalton | +2000 |
| Josh Rosen | +2000 |
| Jordan Love | +3300 |
| Jameis Winston | +4000 |
Odds taken April 6.
Working Fitz Magic
Fitzpatrick is understandably the favorite after a solid finish to the 2019 season.
Fitzpatrick started 13 of the Dolphins’ 16 games a year ago. He permanently replaced Josh Rosen as the starter in the Dolphins’ seventh game.
At the time, the Dolphins were 0-6 and were averaging just 8.4 points a game.
The 16-year veteran then worked his “Fitz Magic.” The Dolphins averaged 26.4 points in their last 10 games and finished the season with a stunning 27-24 road upset of the New England Patriots as a 17.5-point underdog.
In all, Fitzpatrick had a 62.0 completion rate and 85.5 passer rating while throwing for 3,529 yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. He also led the run-challenged Dolphins with 243 rushing yards.
Thus, the 37-year-old stands atop the Dolphins’ pre-draft depth chart.
Rosen Has Fallen Quickly
Rosen is the No. 2 QB on the depth chart as things currently stand. Coach Brian Flores did not show much patience with Rosen last season in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. The Dolphins switched to Fitzpatrick even though they traded second and fifth-round picks to the Arizona Cardinals for Rosen. The Cardinals soured on Rosen following only one season.
Nevertheless, some analysts like Rosen:
Concept Analysis, An alteration of the Dig, Deep Over, Take Off out of 11 personel (Josh Rosen) pic.twitter.com/pKTHMaWwb1
— Quarterback Film Room (@QBFilmRoom) March 31, 2020
Rosen started 13 games as a rookie after being Arizona’s first-round pick in the 2018 draft. However, the Cardinals opted to select Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in 2019 and installed him as the starter.
Rosen has a 3-13 career record as a starter.
Multiple Draft Possibilities
The Dolphins have acquired quite a bit of draft capital during their rebuild. They are reportedly trying to use some of it to trade up with the Cincinnati Bengals for the first-overall pick so they can take LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy-winner Joe Burrow.
However, indications are the Bengals want Burrow to turn around a franchise that hit bottom last season with a 2-14 record.
Reports once again floating around that Miami Dolphins will try to trade up to the #1 pick for QB Joe Burrow
Smokescreen? Miami would likely👀have to trade up for QB Tua anyways pic.twitter.com/5vNFuGRJ2D— LasnerSport (@LasnerSport) March 31, 2020
The Dolphins would still (likely) be in position to draft a top quarterback prospect at No. 5.
Tagovailoa should be available unless another team moves ahead of the Dolphins with a trade. Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Utah State’s Jordan Love will certainly be on the board.
Despite all the “tanking for Tua” talk surrounding the Dolphins going into last season, there have been some reports that Flores and general manager Chris Grier have some hesitancy about Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa missed the final three games of last season with a dislocated hip that required surgery, which was only the latest injury in a plagued college career.
Reports a month ago suggested the Dolphins were enamored with Love’s long-range potential despite playing in a Group of Five conference. Recently, though, there has been media chatter that Miami has fallen in love with Herbert.
The hometown kid is headed off to the NFL. 🦆
Good luck to Justin Herbert at the next level. @oregonfootball | #Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/B9QSpuo0qq
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 1, 2020
In the pre-draft buildup, it is always difficult to determine what is fact and what is fiction.
It does seem likely the Dolphins will look to find their quarterback of the future in the first round.
However, based on how last season ended, it is safe to say Fitzpatrick will begin the 2020 season as the starter, though Love +3300 is an intriguing longshot.
Pick: Fitzpatrick (-134)
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
