Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is under club control through 2024 by virtue of the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, but he anticipates being with the team for the foreseeable future. When asked at a Pro Bowl practice last week if he believes he and Miami will ultimately come to terms on a long-term deal, Tagovailoa said, “I believe that will happen” (via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post).
In 2022, Mike McDaniel‘s first year as the Dolphins’ head coach, Tagovailoa was mostly terrific, as he led the league in quarterback rating (105.5), TD% (6.3%), and yards per attempt (8.9). Unfortunately, that season was also marred by several frightening concussions, and it was reported last August that the team would be tabling contract talks with the former first-rounder.
Tagovailoa managed to stay healthy for the entirety of the 2023 campaign, and although his interception percentage increased, he did lead the league in passing yards (4,624) while posting a 101.1 QB rating en route to his first Pro Bowl nod.
“My main goal this year was to play, you know, 17-plus games and I was able to accomplish that goal and just very fortunate that I was able to do that and very happy too,” Tagovailoa said.
Following consecutive seasons of high-end play, including a 2023 season that featured perfect attendance, it makes sense that the Dolphins would want to explore a multiyear deal with the southpaw passer sooner rather than later, especially since the quarterback market continues to surge with no ceiling in sight. Indeed, as Schad notes, GM Chris Grier recently said he wants to keep Tagovailoa in the fold for the long haul.
It is worth noting that Tagovailoa struggled in last season’s most meaningful games. Although he got off to a fast start in a Week 17 game in Baltimore, a contest in which control of the AFC’s No. 1 seed was on the line, Tagovailoa and his offense soon faltered, and he ultimately completed 22 of 38 passes for two TDs against two interceptions in a 56-19 blowout loss to the Ravens. That took the AFC’s top seed off the table, but the ‘Fins still had the chance to secure the AFC East title and a home playoff game if they could defeat the Bills in the regular season finale in South Beach.
Tagovailoa struggled in that contest as well, and the Dolphins’ loss to Buffalo forced the team to open the playoffs on the road against the eventual-AFC champion Chiefs. On a frigid Kansas City night in January, Tagovailoa again failed to muster much production, completing 20 of 39 passes for a paltry 199 yards (53 of which came on one throw), one TD, and one interception.
The Dolphins’ meek exit from the playoff field and Tagovailoa’s poor performance down the stretch led to renewed questions about his future in Miami, though player and team both apparently expect to continue their relationship for some time. However, with the Alabama product due a below-market $23.17MM salary on his fifth-year option in 2024, and controllable via the franchise tag in 2025, there is not necessarily any urgency — aside from the rising QB market referenced above — to get something done right now.
Spotrac estimates that Tagovailoa could land a six-year contract worth just over $300MM if he were currently on the open market.
Dolphins expect to be middle of the pack long-term.
Remember when clowns were chanting “tank for Tua”?
Remember when they didn’t tank, but still got him anyway?
You mean back when Burrow would have been a late round pick and people thought Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell were future top ten picks? People are frequently wronger than those people were about Tua.
Been to the playoffs more than Herbert.
The Dolphins need to get a big play possession WR. Mike Evans?
They’ve got the best WR group in the NFL already and Tua couldn’t get them the ball consistently when it really counted.
Best receiver duo, and both of those guys were hobbled down the stretch.
Heck yeah… the Bills Jets and Pats approve of this whole heartedly.
Tua’s a tough one, because he has a limited ceiling, but it would be hard for Miami to do better in the near future. They’re in a tricky spot in general. They really went all-in on this year, including investing a lot in guys with significant injury pasts who got hurt again. They’ll be without Chubb and Phillips to start next year and they have to cut Ogbah. Armstead is great, but he always misses games and will be 33 next season. Howard is most likely gone. Wilkins and their two best interior offensive linemen are free agents. And on top of all that, they currently only have two picks in the top 150. I’m curious to see how they put this next roster together.
Tua is much like Dak Prescott in the fact for 85% of the time he’s going to be good. But as soon as there is tough games and big expectations they don’t show up and get it done.
Dak is 30 years old now and is 2-5 in the playoffs whereas Tua has had just the one game and it was a loss. Career wise Dak is 73-41, which is basically double what Tua is 32-19.
If you retain Tua, you’ll continue to be a good side and likely have a few more playoff appearances but that’s about it and eventually playoff appearances won’t be enough.
I guess they don’t need to make a decision just yet but it’s probably better to decide sooner rather then later. The Dolphins window is open now and ideally you don’t want to be waiting.
And if you’re thinking about Kirk Cousins then don’t. He’s also terrible when the spotlight is on him. Just look at his Monday night football record
Tua won plenty of big games in college. He just needed good coaching or at least consistent coaching. He has improved two years in a row under McDaniels. This next year I believe will determine what he can do going forward
The worst thing a Team can do is have a middle of the road QB. The Team maybe in contention for the playoffs every year, but will struggle in the playoffs. I’ve seen enough from Tua…….no excuses last year: he was healthy, strong running game, Oline was fair to good and a top tier receivers and running attack. That was good enough to consistently beat poor teams, but go 1-6 against the top half. He is not able to put the Team on his shoulders when it counts. I’ll like to see him traded. Do like the 49ers and bring in a stable of young QBs and let them battle it out.