Terron Armstead: ‘I’ll stand on’ comparison of Tua Tagovailoa to Drew Brees

Former Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead returns to the comparison between his two starting quarterbacks.

Recently retired left tackle Terron Armstead made an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Monday. The 2013 third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints spent nine seasons with his original team before ending his career with three seasons as a member of the Miami Dolphins. During his career, he was named to five Pro Bowls and was widely considered one of the best offensive linemen in the league. Among the quarterbacks for whom he pass-blocked were the Saints’ Drew Brees, who could be a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection next year when he becomes eligible, and the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, heading into his sixth season in the league.

Tagovailoa has been compared to Brees throughout his career, starting even before the Dolphins’ quarterback had entered the NFL Draft out of Alabama. Both shorter quarterbacks to rely on accuracy and timing to excel, Tagovailoa’s game mirrors that of Brees – even down to the trajectory of his career.

Brees, in his first five seasons, spent with the San Diego Chargers, was named to one Pro Bowl and struggled to play every game in a season. He threw for 3,576 yards in 2005, his most as the Chargers quarterback, only the second time he broke the 3,000-yard mark before leaving San Diego. For a quarterback who was destined to set the record for the most 5,000-yard passing seasons, only reaching 3,500 yards once in his first five seasons is surprising.

Tagovailoa’s first five seasons have included one Pro Bowl selection, making the all-star event in 2023 after leading the league with 4,624 passing yards. He led the league with a 105.5 passer rating in 2022 and was atop the league in completion percentage last year with a 72.9 percent mark.

In his first five seasons, Brees threw for 12,348 yards on a 62.2 percent completion rate with 80 touchdowns, 53 interceptions, and an 84.9 passer rating. Tagovailoa has thrown for 15,506 yards on a 68.1 percent completion rate with 100 touchdowns, 44 interceptions, and a 97.9 passer rating.

Brees took a giant step forward in his sixth season, his first with the Saints, jumping to 4,418 passing yards in 2006 to lead the league. He would break 5,000 yards for the first time two years later, throwing for 5,069 yards to lead the league, as well as a league-high 34 touchdowns that year.

There is no guarantee Tagovailoa continues on a trajectory similar to Brees, but the comparisons have always been there, and Armstead continues to believe they are warranted.

“I think he is special, I really do,” Armstead explained of Tagovailoa. “I’ve been very loudly about my support of Tua, as a teammate, as a fan. I think he can do really special things with the football in his hand.”

Armstead then turned to the comparison of Tagovailoa to Brees, saying, “I may be the one who originated the Drew Brees comparison, and I’ll stand on that. I will. He is very talented. His anticipation, his accuracy, his precision; there’s very few guys who have walked this planet who can do what he can do with the football in his hand.”

Asked why he would “stand” on that comparison, Armstead simply replied, “I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it in close proximity. I’ve seen his preparation. We’ve seen him, collectively as football players, we’ve seen him improve since his rookie until now. He led the league in passing yards a couple of years ago, he leads the league in completion percentage every year, those are winning stats. I think, even more this year, he takes another step in his leadership, he takes another step in the fourth quarter, two-minute drills, those late-game situations that really separate the good from the great. I think it’s time.”

Are we on the verge of seeing Tagovailoa’s trajectory take off? Will the comparisons to Brees – including from a five-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman who blocked for both – continue? Will he reach those levels?

Armstead seems to think the comparisons are accurate and that there is more to come from Tagovailoa.

You can watch the segment on GMFB here: