Patrick Paul isn’t just hoping for a Tua Tagovailoa rebound - he’s betting on one.
The Miami Dolphins offensive tackle, who spent two seasons blocking for Tagovailoa, said he expects the veteran quarterback to beat out Michael Penix for Atlanta’s starting job once training camp opens. Paul made the comment on Terron Armstead’s podcast.
“Him going into Atlanta now, he's got a new situation, a new environment, and I know he's going to go in there, and he's definitely going to win that spot,” Paul said.
Tagovailoa landed with the Falcons on a one-year, $1.21-million deal after Miami released him in March, a move that leaves the Dolphins carrying a record-breaking $99.2-million dead cap hit over the next two seasons. The 28-year-old is coming off the roughest year of his career, finishing with 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 starts.
Miami pulled him from the lineup for the final three games and turned to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers. Across 33 qualifying quarterbacks in the 2025 season, Tagovailoa finished 25th in passer rating and 26th in EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia.
Still, Paul pointed to the bigger picture and the version of Tagovailoa that once carried Miami’s offense. Tagovailoa was the Dolphins’ starter for six seasons after going fifth overall in 2020, and his best stretch came in 2023, when he led the league with 4,624 passing yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
Atlanta’s new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, has said the job will be decided in camp, with Tagovailoa and Penix competing for the No. 1 role. Penix, 26, is coming back from a season-ending knee injury suffered in November and was not fully cleared to practice during OTAs.
“(Tagovailoa) is a great player. Definitely rooting for him,” Paul said.
“I know he's going to bounce back from what was last year, and he's going to do his thing over there. So, I'm waiting to see it.
Waiting to see his bounce back.”
The Falcons have been searching for stability at quarterback since Matt Ryan left in 2022. Since then, five different quarterbacks have started multiple games for the team, and over the last four years Atlanta has ranked 24th in passing yards and 28th in passing touchdowns.
Training camp opens July 28, and the Falcons begin the season Sept. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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ESPN Rankings Just Exposed The Falcons Biggest Roster Problem
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That imbalance has been part of the story behind Atlantas recent losing records, because the roster has often been built around quality at positions that matter less than quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. Terry Fontenot tried late to patch those holes, including the selection of Michael Penix Jr. and edge rushers, and the front office has since shifted under Ian Cunningham, who has started leaning harder into premium positions with his early draft picks. The rankings only sharpen that conversation, especially with some of the most important spots still waiting for the Falcons to prove they can match their best non-premium talent. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Is Already Creating Serious Buzz Before Training Camp
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For a defense looking for help under coach Jeff Ulbrich, Perkins offers the kind of upside that can make a late-round selection feel much bigger than it looks on paper. Atlanta is optimistic about what he might become, and now the real question is how quickly that offseason momentum carries over once camp opens and the competition turns live. [Read more 🡒]