The Miami Dolphins open 2020 NFL training camp on July 28 at the Baptist Health Training Facility in Davie, Florida. Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
When will Tua Tagovailoa be ready to start?
ESPN made the argument in April that the Dolphins should sit Tagovailoa his entire rookie season, but many people disagree and the most likely scenario is that he starts at some point during the 2020 season. But when?
Training camp should provide the Dolphins their first look at Tagovailoa in true football action since his devastating hip injury last fall while playing for Alabama. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is the favorite to start Week 1. The Dolphins won't rush Tagovailoa into the lineup, but if he progresses quickly and/or the team struggles with Fitzpatrick at the helm, it might be hard to keep him on the sidelines.
Over the past 10 years, 21 of the 30 first-round quarterbacks started at least 10 games as rookies. Only one first-rounder -- the Tennessee Titans' Jake Locker -- failed to start a game as a rookie.
Are the Dolphins ready to make a 2020 playoff push in a new-look AFC East?
It wouldn't be a complete surprise if Miami made a 2020 playoff push, but it's most likely one year too early. ESPN detailed in June why 2021 is the season to circle for Miami to return to the January postseason dance.
That being said, expect the unexpected in what is shaping up to be a unique 2020 season. The Dolphins are much more talented than they were in 2019 when coach Brian Flores squeezed out a 5-11 record, so maybe he can coax another overachieving season out of this bunch.
What's going to happen with Josh Rosen?
Rosen was the No. 10 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but right now he's the third-wheel in the Dolphins' quarterback room and there's no clear path for him to become a starter with Fitzpatrick here to bridge the gap until Tagovailoa is ready.
A trade makes a lot of sense, but the issue is compensation. Rosen's value is at an all-time low, and the Dolphins don't seem ready to admit their mistake and take pennies on the dollar by trading him for a mid-to-late Day 3 pick. Miami might believe he has more value right now as a cheap, developing backup.
Will the duo of Byron Jones and Xavien Howard be the top CB tandem in the NFL in 2020?
Jones and Howard have a real chance to be scary and special. They're already the NFL's most expensive cornerback duo, hauling in a combined average of $31.55 million per season. Howard was the NFL's co-interception leader in 2018 and Jones led the NFL in tight-window targets in 2019, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Plus, they pair well together as strong man-to-man guys -- the core of Flores' defense. So you've got a ball hawk on one side and a sticky defender on the other. Good luck, QBs.
Their biggest competition comes from the Baltimore Ravens (Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters), the New England Patriots (Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty) and Los Angeles Chargers (Casey Heyward and Chris Harris Jr.). Howard and Jones, when healthy and at their best, have the upside and youth to surpass them all.