The playing days of longtime NFL offensive tackle Terron Armstead are over, but he remains a sharp football mind, and he recently had good things to say about Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, one of his former teammates.
Armstead, who also played with New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees during his NFL career, compared Tagovailoa to Brees and said that he’s seen the Dolphins passer “snap into a mode” that reminded him of his days with Brees.
Why should Dolphins fans have confidence that Tua is the long-term guy for the franchise?@T_Armstead72 | @ESPNRadio pic.twitter.com/AYVSkgFKSx
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) June 17, 2025
“I wholeheartedly believe in Tua, believe in his ability,” he said. “I’ve seen him snap into a mode that looked familiar to me from Drew Brees. That’s why I have no problem making that comparison. The consistency of that, him snapping into that assassin mode, that sniper mode, that’s that championship DNA that we want to see more consistently.
“I believe he can do it. I believe he can — we can keep him upright up front. I think the Dolphins’ season, it comes down to Tua’s availability and if we can get Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips healthy. On that defense, I think those two guys healthy, with Chop Robinson, it changes the whole dynamic of the team.”
Armstead added that he thinks there’s “no limit” for the Dolphins if the dominoes fall the right way, which may get some fans excited going into the new season.
Armstead spent many years protecting Brees up front, so he got an up-close look at the quarterback’s tendencies. Brees had an impressive career in which he often led the league in completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Tagovailoa has also shown an ability to lead the NFL in key categories. For example, he led the NFL in passer rating in the 2022 season, passing yards in the 2023 season and completion percentage in the 2024 season.
As many know, availability issues have been Tagovailoa’s kryptonite in the NFL, with the one-time Pro Bowler often missing time due to concussions or other physical ailments. There has only been one season in which he’s appeared in every game. That was the 2023 campaign.
The key for him moving forward is to stay on the field and remain effective in his role. After the Dolphins missed the playoffs last season, they’re looking to bounce back in the 2025 campaign, and Tagovailoa is going to have to help them get there.
Brees won a Super Bowl during his career, and while Tagovailoa doesn’t have one yet, there is still time for the Dolphins and their 27-year-old quarterback to get one in the future.
Miami will open its 2025 season with a road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 7.
