His name may not have come up as the Miami Dolphins began the 10-day countdown to the NFL opener, but the team’s fans finally know now what’s in store for rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2020.

The Miami Dolphins brought three viable QBs to camp

The Miami Dolphins came to training camp with three quarterbacks vying to get on the field for the Sept. 13 opener against the AFC East rival New England Patriots. Ryan Fitzpatrick arrived ready to begin his 16^th pro season and figured to keep his starting job.

The selection of rookie Tua Tagovailoa as the No. 5 overall draft pick in April signaled what the organization envisions for the future. With 6,806 yards and 76 touchdown passes over his two seasons as a starter with the Crimson Tide, Tagovailoa established himself as one of the most exciting players in college football. It’s easy to see his skills translating seamlessly to the NFL in the near future.

Other than Ryan Tannehill (2012), Miami had not used a first-round pick on a quarterback since Dan Marino in 1983. Before that, you have to go back to Bob Griese in 1967. So, the message is clearly that Tagovailoa is the cornerstone upon the franchise is being built.

The third man in the equation has been Josh Rosen, a top-10 pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. They discarded Rosen a year later as the team jumped at the opportunity to draft Kyler Murray.

Tua Tagovailoa poses a tough obstacle for Josh Rosen

When the Miami Dolphins went looking for a solution at quarterback last offseason, they paid a premium for Josh Rosen. Though unimpressed with what Rosen showed as a rookie, the Arizona Cardinals still expected to be well-compensated in a trade, and they squeezed second- and fifth-round picks out of Miami.

Rosen began 2019 as the Dolphins’ starter behind center. One touchdown pass and five interceptions during an 0-3 start put him to the bench in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

That sent the Dolphins back to square one at the most important position on the field. Fitzpatrick, who’ll turn 38 during the upcoming season, was never a long-term solution. So. Miami drafted Tua Tagovailoa despite his injury history at Alabama.

That injury history meant the Dolphins were going to keep Rosen around for as long as it took the coaching staff to be sure that Tagovailoa was ready to go at full speed.

That day has arrived.

Tua Tagovailoa is good to go, so Josh Rosen is as good as gone

Citing league sources, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the Miami Dolphins are looking to trade Josh Rosen. What general manager Chris Grier can get in return for a QB who’s played for two teams in two seasons is debatable, but it’s bound to be substantially less that what the Dolphins paid the Cardinals last year.

Meanwhile, Schefter’s report provides insight into the Dolphins’ other young quarterback. Miami’s willingness to part with Rosen can only mean that the coaching staff and the front office are confident that Tagovailoa is healthy enough to play if called upon this season, even in Week 1 as an emergency replacement for Fitzpatrick.

Given the severity of his injuries in Alabama’s win over Mississippi State last fall – his dislocated hip resulted in a fracture to the posterior wall – it wasn’t a sure thing that Tagovailoa would be ready for the start of the season.

Now it’s Rosen whose status is up in the air.