Tua Tagovailoa is not holding in, separating the Dolphins‘ top negotiation from multiple others around the NFL. This includes Jordan Love‘s Packers arrangement, which has become a hold-in situation. Despite Tagovailoa having a longer track record than Love, the fifth-year passer went through Dolphins workouts Wednesday. This did come with a notable exception. Tagovailoa took only two reps (both handoffs) in Dolphins team drills to open camp, per ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s camp workload — absent an extension — would compare to OTAs; the lefty did not go through team drills then or during minicamp. We heard Monday this would likely be the route Tagovailoa takes.
The Dolphins have been negotiating with Tua for months, and while some optimism has emerged, Miami’s QB1 has turned down at least one offer and may have seen the team dig in on a price south of Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. Lawrence receiving $142MM may also be much higher than the Dolphins want to go. McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) both sides are “relentlessly” working on this agreement. The parties still have time to hammer out a deal before the season, but the longer this goes, the closer Tua comes to carrying a lofty franchise tag number (upwards of $40MM) on Miami’s 2025 cap sheet.
Here is the latest QB news coming out of training camp:
- Aaron Rodgers confirmed a trip to Egypt indeed led to his missing minicamp and confirmed the Jets fined him for the unexcused absences. Rodgers has been criticized for a lack of leadership by skipping the offseason’s only mandatory workout, but he said his relationship with Robert Saleh has been unaffected. “I’m an adult; I knew what I was getting into,” Rodgers said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “I knew the fine that was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt. I wish there hadn’t been a conflict scheduling-wise, but it was what it was.” Rodgers, who said be based the trip on the Jets’ 2023 offseason schedule, had shown up for OTAs prior to the abrupt — to the public, at least — departure.
- Jayden Daniels does not have Commanders first-string reps to himself just yet; the No. 2 overall pick is splitting them with free agency addition Marcus Mariota, the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier notes. While Dan Quinn is labeling this a QB competition, Fortier cautions that Daniels is all but assured of the starting job. This follows a report that pointed to the Commanders indeed feeling no real reason to hold back the 2023 Heisman winner by giving Mariota bridge work.
- Although the Daniels-Mariota split may deprive the highly touted rookie from early reps, Washington is holding an actual battle for the No. 3 spot. The team is pitting rookie UDFA Sam Hartman against veteran Jeff Driskel, Fortier adds. The former Notre Dame starter, who has a safety net via the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions’ recent draft choice, played behind Driskel to start camp. It is not yet clear if the Commanders plan to keep three QBs, but the winner of this battle would stand to at least be the team’s emergency option in the event only two are rostered.
- Prior to the USFL and XFL merging, Ben DiNucci played in the former league’s second season and spent last year as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The recent Russell Wilson teammate worked out for the 13-year vet’s new team this week, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Steelers brought in the veteran. Pittsburgh has Kyle Allen in place behind Wilson and Justin Fields presently.
I think Tua’s injury history is a huge red flag u can ignore it I wouldn’t give him a big expensive contract maybe a.2 yr deal or just tag him for a few yrs to ensure he stays healthy. he’s not worth top money in my mind
I keep saying the Kirk cousins deal makes a lot of sense. Coming off a major injury-injury history for tua, less than the going rate for the elite of the elite, while also a contract you can get out of or out from under eventually if needed.
I appreciate that Rodgers is taking ownership of his decision, but did he think that that was going to be his only chance to go to Egypt? Football isn’t everything, but he has money and he has a lot to catch up on in New York. A lot of the criticism that he’s taken in last few years, in fairness, has been based on hyperbole, but not all of it, and his offseason decisions not to work with teammates is one example.
Tagovailoa might have a better resume that Love-in fact he does certainly have one at this time-but it’s also a longer resume as well. I could see that he wouldn’t as worried about securing a deal after starting multiple seasons with his organization. It’s less of a question of capability at this point (though it is a question of injury) than Love, who has only one season of work. Tua can expect to be viewed as an experienced starter, and doesn’t need to exercise his leverage as much as the inexperienced Love, who needs to throw his weight now to get some kind of security.
I don’t know if that’s absolutely true, of course, and I can certainly see counter-arguments or other explanations (Tua might just simply see his duties differently or be more willing to just show up, or maybe his agent simply thinks differently), but I could see this potentially being a mindset that he has. Tua also seems to have a good and longer term rapport with his star receivers, which could certainly influence a decision to not hold out if they’re more determined to work together despite hid contract questions. I admit that this is rather speculative on both Love and Tua’s parts, though.
Was Rodgers unable to afford the change fees for his trip?
Makes sense that Rodgers went to Egypt. Every time he talks, he sounds like he’s on his pyramid.
I’m sorry… that was a cheap joke, and I’m better than that…
No. No, I’m not better than that.
Rodgers could’ve spent the last ten months in Egypt if he wanted to and not missed anything. I question his judgment on the timing of the trip partially because he knows what months or time of year team activities start but mostly because he chose to go to Egypt when you’re basically guaranteed 100+ temperatures on a daily basis.
Interesting comment from Gardner yesterday when he said when Rodgers is in the building there is a standard…. I guess no one else in the building sets the standards?
I wonder if Kyle Allen is feeling displacement?
Thought that was a weird signing to begin with (for him)
Gucci Dinucci brings the vibes to the QB3 spot
Miami should pay Tua the going rate – just not with guaranteed money.
On a side note, watching Hard Knocks MIA and NYJ, I’m really impressed with Saleh as a HC. He exudes a leadership style and seems the players buy in. Then you watch McDaniels, 100% different coaching style. You can see why MIA has a reputation for being a finesse team and not a physical one. Teams really take after the HCs styles.