When the Miami Dolphins selected former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft he was the only Crimson Tide product on the team. This would be the case for 51 more picks until the Dolphins drafted former Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis.
Davis being on defense won’t help Tua out as much when he’s on the field. He will be playing with an entire new set of teammates, including a brand new offensive line, new running backs and a new tight end.
Most importantly, he will be playing with different wide receivers.
While at Alabama, he had Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle to throw pass to. He’s now unfamiliar with his new cast.
Let’s take a look at how Tua’s new receivers compare to the receivers he was used to slinging touchdown passes to while at Alabama.
DeVante Parker – Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy size:
Height: 6-1, Weight: 193
Parker size:
Height: 6-3, Weight: 216
Jerry Jeudy was the lead man for Tua’s wide receiver corps. He was the 2018 Biletnikoff award recipient, the largest starting receiver for the Crimson Tide and leader of many categories.
Long story short, he was Tua’s go-to guy.
Now without Jeudy, he will turn his attention to the Dolphin’s lead receiver, DeVante Parker. Parker is the longest-tenured starting receiver for Miami. The Louisville product was Miami’s first-round draft choice in 2015.
Parker and Jeudy have the leadership quality in common, but what else?
Jeudy was known for his flashy, elusive moves after the catch to help extend plays. Parker is similar in the sense that while he may not be as nimble as Jeudy, his heavier build often times makes him the stronger man in a battle with a defensive back.
Much like how Jeudy was for Tua, Parker is expected to be the “safe option” for the former Alabama quarterback. A pass to him, regardless of yardage, can likely be turned into something greater than most expected it to be.