Tua Tagovailoa’s contract with the Miami Dolphins is in its final year, and it is unknown at this point when or if the team will be able to agree on a new agreement.
Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, has turned up for optional OTAs this week despite not having agreed to a contract extension. The elite player is in the final year of his contract and reportedly turned down the team’s long-term offer last week.
According to ESPN, Tagovailoa wants a salary equal to Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow, all of whom have received large contract extensions in the last year. Last season, the Dolphins quarterback led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in his most successful season to date.
While the Dolphins are eager to sign Tagovailoa, they appear hesitant to pay him a contract similar to those garnered by other quarterbacks recently. Despite dealing with injuries throughout his career, Tagovailoa has been criticized for his arm strength, especially when top receiver Tyreek Hill was missing.
However, the former Alabama college football standout does not appear to be concerned about his current predicament with the Dolphins, as he reported for OTAs this week and practiced with his team ahead of the 2024 season.
Tagovailoa is the only quarterback from the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft who has not yet signed an extension, with Hurts and Burrow having already done so. Even Justin Herbert and Jordan Love have signed contracts that extend beyond their rookie terms.
Dolphins General Manager Will Grier recently commented on Tagovailoa’s contract negotiations, saying, “I think we’re hopeful. When you look at these things… these are transactions that rarely come together quickly. There are a lot of moving parts. We’ve had excellent discussions so far, and we’ll continue to work here during the offseason.”
Tagovailoa’s discussions are projected to start at approximately $53 million, which is what Goff received from the Detroit Lions earlier this month.
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is in a similar situation, as he enters the final year of his contract and seeks a wage comparable to the league’s best quarterbacks. Both Tagovailoa and Prescott are expected to monitor each other’s progress, with each likely aiming for a payout of $53-55 million from their respective franchises.