Just In: QB Tua Tagovailoa anticipates a long-term stay with the Dolphins
Due to a fifth-year option on his rookie deal, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is under club control through 2024, but he plans to stay with the team for the foreseeable future. Tagovailoa responded, I believe that will happen, when asked at a Pro Bowl practice last week if he thinks he and Miami will eventually reach an agreement on a long-term contract (via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach ).
Tagovailoa was largely excellent in 2022, Mike McDaniel’s first season as the Dolphins’ head coach. He led the league in yards per attempt (8.9), touchdown percentage (6.3%), and quarterback rating (105.5). Regrettably, a number of terrifying concussions also plagued that season, and in August of last year, rumors circulated that the organization was about to start contract negotiations with the former first-round pick.
Tagovailoa was able to maintain his health throughout the 2023 season, and although he saw a rise in his interception percentage, he led the league in passing yards (4,624) and earned a 101.1 quarterback rating on his way to earning a first-ever Pro Bowl selection.
This year, I wanted to play at least 17 games, and I achieved that objective. I’m grateful that I was able to do that and extremely fortunate, Tagovailoa stated.
It makes sense that the Dolphins would want to look into a multiyear deal with the Southpaw passer sooner rather than later, especially since the quarterback market is still booming and there doesn’t seem to be a ceiling in sight. The player has played at a high level for the past few seasons, including a 2023 season that saw perfect attendance. In fact, general manager Chris Grier just stated that he hopes to retain Tagovailoa for the long run, as Schad points out.
It is noteworthy that Tagovailoa had difficulty in the most important games of the previous season. Tagovailoa and his offense eventually collapsed in a 56-19 blowout defeat to the Ravens, despite getting out to a quick start in a Week 17 game in Baltimore that saw control of the AFC’s No. 1 seed on the line. Tagovailoa completed 22 of 38 throws for two touchdowns against two interceptions. The ‘Fins still had a chance to win the AFC East and a home playoff game if they could upset the Bills in the regular season finale in South Beach, but it eliminated their chances of earning the top seed in the AFC.
Tagovailoa struggled in that game as well, and the Dolphins’ playoff opener against the eventual AFC champion Chiefs had to be played away from home due to their defeat at the hands of Buffalo. Again, Tagovailoa was unable to summon much productivity on a chilly January night in Kansas City, finishing 20 of 39 passes for a meager 199 yards (53 of which came on one throw), one touchdown, and one interception.
Though Tagovailoa’s dismal performances in the last stretch of the season and the Dolphins’ cowardly exit from the playoffs raised further concerns about his future in Miami, it appears that both the player and the team plan to stay together for some time. Apart from the previously mentioned growing QB market, there isn’t really a pressing need to make a decision just now because the Alabama product is scheduled to get a below-market pay of $23.17MM on his fifth-year option in 2024 and can be controlled via the franchise tag in 2025.
If Tagovailoa were currently available for a contract, Spotrac projects that he could sign a six-year deal for somewhat more than $300 million.
