Who would have thought that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be a strong MVP candidate three weeks into the 2023 NFL season?
While he has played well in his first three seasons with the Dolphins, his numbers weren’t enough to get consideration for the league’s most prestigious individual award.
But he is playing on a different level so far this season.
He has completed 71.3 percent of his passes for 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns.
Some football fans still treat Tagovailoa’s excellence as fool’s gold, saying he will eventually struggle.
However, he’s already the MVP in the opinion of his fellow teammate.
“I tip my hat to coach McDaniel, he’s been doing a terrific job, man with Tua. The way Tua is playing right now, it’s definitely MVP-level. Being on the sidelines just watching the fans chanting M-V-P gave me chills in my body,” Tyreek Hill said in a recent episode of his It Needed to Be Said podcast via BroBible NFL writer Dov Kleiman.
#Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill says QB Tua Tagovailoa is the MVP this season, via @cheetah_podcast
"I tip my hat to coach McDaniel, he's been doing a terrific job, man with Tua."
"The way Tua is playing right now, it's definitely MVP level."
"Being on the sidelines just watching the… https://t.co/x9CB8u0sRu pic.twitter.com/dIVI5n8LAd
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 28, 2023
Hill also benefits from Tagovailoa’s exceptional performances, tallying 412 yards and four touchdowns.
More importantly, the Dolphins are 3-0 to start the season.
They also caught the NFL world’s attention after putting up 70 points against the Denver Broncos.
That historic output elevates Tagovailoa’s credentials as MVP frontrunner.
In that game, he had 23 completions for 309 yards and four touchdowns.
What’s scary is that it wasn’t even his best game as he had a 466-yard, three-touchdown performance during their season opener.
Can Tagovailoa sustain this pace and win his first MVP award?
He will take his lumps, given that there are 14 games left.
But he is leading an exciting offense that is having fun while demolishing their opponents.
NEXT: Mike McDaniel Makes His Thoughts Clear About Facing Bills