Tua Tagovailoa’s move to Atlanta has already brought one familiar voice into his corner.
After his uneven finish with the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons and now finds himself in a quarterback fight with 2024 NFL Draft eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. Even with that change of scenery, he’s still drawing support from former Dolphins teammates, including starting left tackle Patrick Paul.
Paul made his case for Tagovailoa on “The Set,” the podcast hosted by now-retired Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, another player who spent three seasons with Tagovailoa in Miami.
“For him, going into Atlanta now, he’s got a new situation, a new environment,” Paul told “The Set,” a podcast hosted by now-retired Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who also spent three seasons with Tagovailoa in Miami.
“I know he’s going to go in there, he’s definitely going to win that spot - he’s a great player.”
Tagovailoa’s time in Miami ended with the Dolphins making a clean break under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The former Alabama star had his moments with the team, and the peak years were loud ones: he led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023, and completion percentage in 2024. He also made the 2023 Pro Bowl.
But 2025 was a different story. Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 games, and rookie Quinn Ewers started the Dolphins’ final three games.
“That’s my dawg on a personal level,” Paul said of how Tagovailoa’s 2025 season unfolded.
“Truthfully, you’ve got to understand from his POV it didn’t go how he wanted. Definitely rooting for him.
I know he’s going to bounce back from what was last year, and he’s going to do his thing over there. I’m waiting to see it.
That’s all it is, just a bounce back.”
There are also lingering concerns around Tagovailoa because he has suffered at least four diagnosed concussions since his final college season at Alabama in 2019.
The next step comes quickly. Falcons training camp practice is scheduled to begin on July 29, and that’s when the battle with Penix will really heat up.
Whoever comes out on top will have plenty to work with. Atlanta’s receiving group includes Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson, who is also a dependable target out of the backfield. The group also features rookie receiver Zachariah Branch, along with new Falcons additions and veterans Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Armstead also weighed in on the situation after Paul’s comments.
“I think Tua’s got a lot he wants to prove, getting back to form,” Armstead later chimed in on Paul’s comments. “They got a lot of weapons in Atlanta.
So if he’s able to get that starting job, watch out. It’ll be explosive.”
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