Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, is increasingly likely to be considered for a trade as his contract dispute continues.
During training camp, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has Tagovailoa in a “very fluid” and “day to day” role. Instead of using his fifth-year option, Tagovailoa is waiting for a deal and engaging in individual training and 7-on-7 drills. He is not participating in 11-on-11 drills.
Based on salary cap circumstances and possible positions between the Dolphins and the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 draft, Miami might resolve the issue in this proposed deal. Tagovailoa might be traded by the Dolphins to the Raiders for quarterback Gardner Minshew, along with the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2025 and third-round pick in 2026.
Although it was only a rumor, FS1’s Craig Carton proposed a similar scenario in April between the Raiders and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Alternatively, the Dolphins might make this trade to clear salary cap space and probably acquire a top-choice draft pick.
This year, Las Vegas was selected with the thirteenth pick, and they will not be anticipated to compete in 2024. In 2025, Miami might take a close look at quarterbacks like Carson Beck of Georgia, Shedeuer Sanders of Colorado, and Quinn Ewers of Texas.
According to his Raiders deal, Minshew would only cost the Dolphins $8 million if they pulled off this move. With a strong offensive line, Minshew can keep the Dolphins in the running for the playoffs if he has another Pro Bowl season, like he did with the Indianapolis Colts the previous season.
If not, Tagovailoa’s rookie contract’s fifth-year option, which is worth $23.17 million this year, is trapped with the Dolphins. His desired annual salary is closer to the $52.6 million projected by Spotrac, and the Dolphins have not yet complied with his contract requests.
Why the Dolphins Could Make it to the Playoffs with Gardner Minshew
After quarterback Anthony Richardson was injured, Minshew took over and almost brought the Colts to the AFC South title and a postseason berth in the previous campaign. In South Beach, the journeyman quarterback could accomplish it with a more talented receiver.
Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. were among the players he had to throw to during the previous Indianapolis season. With nine interceptions against 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns, Minshew completed 62.2% of his passes.
Minshew immediately gains an improvement with the Dolphins in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both amassed 1,000 yards the previous season. The arrival of tight end Jonnu Smith and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. by the Dolphins will only ease Minshew’s workload.
“The market is the market,” says Tua Tagovailoa.
The fact that Tagovailoa is in training camp does not imply that he and the Dolphins will work things out anytime soon. Furthermore, it seems from Tagovailoa’s June media remarks that he will not accept a contract that is less than his market value.
Tagovailoa told reporters, “I mean, I am not blind to people that are in my position that are getting paid.” “Do I worry about it? Although we have talked a lot about it, I am not worried about it; we are just attempting to steer it in the proper path so that we may both be content.
One thing is certain, the market is what it is. All of that would not matter if there was not a market, Tagovailoa continued. It would just be a matter of organization. The organization made the final decision, so it did not matter if that man got paid that much. I would therefore state that the market is the market. That concludes it.