Tua or Herbert? A nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital makes his pick for the Dolphins
In his 30 years working at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Antonio Ibanez has never seen something like he is now as COVID-19 ravages the United States.
He’s passionate about his work as a charge nurse at the emergency room at the Miami hospital, of course. This week, he’s passionate about something else, too: the 2020 NFL Draft.
“A lot of passion for this emergency room,” Ibanez said, “but what I really have passion for is the Miami Dolphins.”
The Dolphins have the Nos. 5, 18 and 26 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. All signs point toward Miami taking a quarterback with the top pick, and the debate as to whom the pick should be has largely centered on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert.
Ibanez was a season-ticket holder in the 1980s, when the Dolphins played at the Miami Orange Bowl and were a perennial playoff team. He was at the American Football Conference Championship in 1983 when the Dolphins’ Killer Bees Defense topped the New York Jets, led by former defensive ends Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko, to reach Super Bowl 17.
Like so many long-suffering Miami fans, Ibanez is eager to see the Dolphins return to glory and he believes Tagovailoa is the path forward.
“I believe the Dolphins are going to take Tua with the fifth pick,” he said.
Once the quarterback is in place, Ibanez hopes Miami will put the focus on protecting him.
The Dolphins’ top priority in this draft is finding a franchise quarterback. No. 2 on the list is probably rebuilding the offensive line and Miami has two more first-round picks to do it.
Ibanez has two prospects in mind: Louisville Cardinals tackle Mekhi Becton and Michigan Wolverines center Cesar Ruiz, and he’s happy to use some more of the Dolphins’ 14 total picks to get the offensive linemen he wants.
“They’re going trade up and get a left tackle, hopefully Mekhi Becton,” Ibanez said, “and then with the last pick they’re going to get Cesar Ruiz and fortify that offensive line.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 3:58 PM.
