Jordan Love, Dak Prescott and Tua Tagovailoa represent the next set of dominoes expected to fall within the quarterback market this summer, with the Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence deals providing early road maps for the Packers, Cowboys and Dolphins. As of now, Miami does not appear to be comfortable with where the market has gone.

Tagovailoa alluded to progress being made earlier this month while also reminding where the QB market has gone, perhaps sending a message to the Dolphins regarding his value following the extensions for Goff ($53MM per year) and Lawrence (record-tying $55MM AAV). It looks like any progress between the Dolphins and their QB has stalled, with ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington indicating during an NFL Live appearance (h/t Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald) the team has not offered a deal in step with those the Lions and Jaguars proposed to their top passers.

The Dolphins having yet to offer a market-value extension, per Darlington, certainly introduces a speedbump in these talks. But Tagovailoa turned down at least one offer from the team earlier this offseason. The sides are still working toward a middle ground, but given the form (when healthy) the former No. 5 overall pick has shown, it is difficult to see him accepting an extension south of where the Jags went for Lawrence. The latter’s prospect pedigree and growth potential aside, Tua has fared better — albeit with superior weaponry — over the past two seasons.

Miami not being on the Goff or Lawrence level with Tagovailoa does not surprise Kelly, who indicates the team is “dug in” regarding the southpaw arm’s value. This certainly creates the potential for a standoff, as the Dolphins — due to Tua’s uneven first three seasons — already dragged this process into a contract year, a place teams rarely go with first-round passers on rookie deals. The parties have been negotiating since mid-April.

The Dolphins joining the Ravens in not extending their starter after Year 3 — when these deals usually move past the goal line for first-rounders — preceded a fairly promising season from the Alabama alum. Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and threw 29 TD passes, though 14 INTs came along with those. Tagovailoa ranked third in QBR during his concussion-marred 2022 slate and 10th last season, when he played 17 games and took the snaps in Miami’s one-sided wild-card loss.

Taking a hardline stance with Tua runs the risk of the Dolphins having their quarterback move toward a 2025 franchise tag. Considering this year’s QB tag price ($38.3MM), that almost doubles as a weapon for Tagovailoa given the cap hold a 2025 tag would create for a Dolphins team that dealt with cap issues this offseason. The Dolphins, who extended Jaylen Waddle recently and appear open to revising Tyreek Hill‘s contract, are projected to be — albeit several months away from the cap-compliance deadline — $9MM-plus over the 2025 cap without any Tua money factoring into that number.

The arrivals of Hill and Mike McDaniel have undoubtedly played major roles in Tagovailoa’s emergence, but the latter proving himself a productive quarterback through his age-25 season obviously creates considerable leverage. The playoff starter missed several Dolphins offseason workouts due to his contract situation, though he showed up midway through Miami’s program. It will be interesting to see how far apart the sides are, as more than two months still remain until Week 1.

While Tua Tagovailoa was in attendance for the start of Dolphins OTAs, there’s still uncertainty surrounding his extension talks with the organization. We learned recently that the front office had indeed submitted an offer to the quarterback, but the player’s no-show from offseason workouts indicated that the offer was rejected.

[RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa In Attendance For Dolphins’ OTAs; QB Rejected Extension Offer]

Despite both sides expressing interest in speedy negotiations, Tagovailoa is still sitting with only a year remaining on his contract. However, the quarterback did express some optimism in completing a deal while speaking with reporters yesterday.

“Well, I think there’s been a lot of progress at this point,” Tagovailoa said (via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network). “From where we started, there’s been a lot of progress. Now, you can ask the other question — then why aren’t we seeing an agreement? Well, that’s the tough part about it. That’s why it’s business. That’s why you’ve got one side and the other trying to work to meet in the middle.”

While Tagovailoa described himself as “antsy” as he awaits a new contract, he said he’s not “frustrated” or “concerned.” The QB did acknowledge that he’s more than aware of the rising QB market, including Jared Goff‘s recent contract with the Lions.

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing, the market is the market,” Tagovailoa said (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald). “If we didn’t have a market, then none of that would matter, it would just be an organizational thing. It didn’t matter if that guy got paid that because it’s an organizational thing. So that’s what I would say — the market is the market. That’s it.”

Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says there’s “some optimism” that the two sides will agree to a deal and it’s simply “a matter of time.” Rapoport notes that Tagovailoa has done everything he can do to establish himself as a franchise QB, including playing a full season and leading his team to the postseason. The top of the quarterback market surged past $50MM per year last offseason, and Tagovailoa’s attendance at OTAs should signal that the front office is willing to hit that mark.

In terms of on-the-field developments, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that Tua lost between 10 to 15 pounds this offseason. That brings the QB’s playing weight down to around 220 pounds.

Tua Tagovailoa was among the players who sat out some or all offseason workouts prior to the opening of organized team activities. That marked a departure from his previous attendance decisions, and it led to speculation he could remain absent from the remainder of voluntary offseason activities.

The extension-eligible Dolphins quarterback is indeed present for the opening of OTAs, however, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Tagovailoa had previously stated an intention of taking part in the final phase of Miami’s offseason program, so today’s news comes as little surprise. It also makes it likely the 26-year-old will take part in mandatory minicamp next month.

Tagovailoa skipped most of the Dolphins’ previous offseason workouts, and it was reported last week that decision was tied to the fact he has not landed an extension. All activities prior to minicamp and training camp in July are voluntary, and an absence from the latter in particular would be more noteworthy. Tagovailoa’s attendance at OTAs is a positive sign on the contract front as talks continue. A second NFL pact will be among the most lucrative in the league, something evidenced by the team’s efforts to secure Tagovailoa for the long term.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (via Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report) that the Dolphins have made at least one offer so far. The fact the former No. 5 pick skipped out on most voluntary workouts is a sign that offer was rejected. Especially with respect to QB mega-deals, negotiations are a back and forth process and plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached. Tagovailoa is under contract for 2024 on his fifth-year option, valued at $23.17MM.

A long-term accord could very well reach the $50MM-per-year mark, something which is currently true of five deals. Jared Goff inked a Lions extension averaging $53MM per season last week, and that places him in second in the pecking order as things stand. 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence is expected to at least approach the top of the market with his Jaguars extension.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus – who represents a number of Dolphins players but not Tagovailoa himself – notes there is a sentiment inside the organization and around the league an extension will be worked out no later than training camp (video link via Josh Moser). Tagovailoa’s attendance is an encouraging sign on that front, and the progress of contract talks will remain a storyline to follow closely.

The Dolphins begin their organized team activities next week, and that will mark an important (but voluntary) next step in the team’s offseason program. Given the actions of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in recent weeks, it remains to be seen if he will be present.

The extension-eligible passer has been away from Miami for the “large majority” of the team’s offseason work to date, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. The Dolphins’ program began one month ago, and Tagovailoa has been seen with the team at times (with his most recent documented participation coming on April 19). The 26-year-old has been a full participant at OTAs and other voluntary workouts in previous offseasons.

Tagovailoa is under contract through 2024, as he is set to play on his fifth-year option. That has him on track to earn $23.17MM, a much lower figure than the one which a multi-year extension will carry. Talks on a monster deal are ongoing, but Jones unsurprisingly confirms Tagovailoa’s absence is believed to be tied to the fact he does not yet have a pact in hand.

The top of the quarterback market surged past $50MM per year last offseason, with four ascending passers (Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts) securing mega-deals which will kick in after their rookie contracts. Jared Goff became the latest signal-caller to secure a massive payday, with the Lions agreeing to a $53MM-per-year deal. Notably, however, that represents Goff’s third NFL contract.

Tagovailoa is three years younger than Goff, though the former’s career has of course featured a number of injury concerns. The 2023 campaign – the fourth of his career – marked the first one in which Tagovailoa played in every game. The former No. 5 pick committed to improving his durability last offseason, and his efforts on that front paid off. Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards while setting career highs in completion percentage (69.3%) and touchdowns passes (29).

Those figures earned the Alabama product a Pro Bowl nod for the first time. They also helped his market value and his chances of landing a long-term Miami investment. As of March, the team did not see an extension as a pressing matter, though, and the Dolphins have certainly been active on a number of other fronts this offseason. The team has made several agent additions along the defensive line following Christian Wilkins‘ departure, and both wideout Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips have had their 2025 fifth-year options picked up.

Each member of the latter pair profiles as a top extension candidate, and safety Jevon Holland (who is entering the final year of his rookie contract) is also in the team’s long-term plans. The franchise tag could be an option for Holland or Tagovailoa next year, but only if negotiations stall out over a long period of time. It will be interesting to see if Tagovailoa is present for OTAs next week, though an absence would only open the door to financial penalties if it extended into mandatory minicamp in June or training camp the following month.

The Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa have kicked off extension talks. General manager Chris Grier told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe that the two sides have engaged in positive and “ongoing” discussions surrounding a new contract.

[RELATED: QB Tua Tagovailoa Expects To Remain With Dolphins Long-Term]

With the former first-round pick set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, an extension had been described as the most “consequential matter” in Miami. The last we heard, an agreement wasn’t imminent and there was “no rush” to finalize a deal. Indeed, Grier confirmed there’s no deadline on extension talks, with both sides understanding that the current focus is on the draft.

However, there were rumblings earlier this offseason that both the Dolphins and Tagovailoa’s camp were hoping for speedy negotiations. There was a general sentiment that everybody wanted to avoid “a storyline that hangs over training camp or the regular season.” The two sides can still accomplish that goal; when the draft ends next weekend, there will still be three months until the start of training camp.

Both the Dolphins and Tagovailoa have publicly endorsed a long-term deal. While the player’s health and the rising cost of QB contracts will complicate negotiations, it’s sounded like the two sides have generally been on the same page. Indeed, Wolfe notes that the Dolphins are preparing for a Tagovailoa-led future via this year’s draft, with the team potentially targeting offensive linemen with their two top-100 picks.

Tagovailoa has been working this offseason to repeat a standout 2023 campaign that saw him stay healthy for the first time in his career. Wolfe notes that the QB has dropped his weight down to 220 pounds, a decrease from his 235-pound playing weight last year.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are hoping to get an extension done as soon as possible. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo pass along, there’s been indications from both sides that they “would like to get a deal done quickly this offseason.”

[RELATED: Tagovailoa Expects To Remain With Dolphins Long-Term]

Both sides have previously expressed their interest in a long-term commitment, and it now bodes well for the impending negotiations that neither the Dolphins nor Tagovailoa’s camp are looking to draw out the process. As the NFL Network trio notes, both sides also want to avoid “a storyline that hangs over training camp or the regular season.”

Of course, settling on a new deal will be easier said than done. The fourth-year quarterback is coming off of a career year where he set career highs in passing yards (4,624), touchdowns (29), and completion percentage (69.3). Even more notably, Tagovailoa managed to get into all 17 games this past year, a huge accomplishment after he missed 14 games through his first three years due to injuries and concussions.

Tagovailoa showed a clear step forward under Mike McDaniel in 2022, but thanks to a series of concussions, it was reported that the Dolphins would table contract talks until after the 2022 campaign. While the gamble made sense, it didn’t end up working out for the Dolphins front office. As the salary cap continues to grow and QB contracts continue to climb, Tagovailoa could be eyeing a significantly larger pay day than he likely would have received last year.

It’s uncertain if Tagovailoa’s camp would push for a deal that’s approaching Joe Burrow‘s league-leading $55MM per year, but the former first-round pick will surely be eyeing a cap hit that’s much larger than his $23.17MM salary via the fifth-year option in 2024. The Dolphins do have the franchise tag in their back pocket, so not all would be lost if the two sides are unable to agree to a deal.

The Dolphins’ disappointing end to the 2023 campaign briefly put Tagovailoa’s future with Miami in doubt. Ultimately, it sounds like both sides are committed to hammering out a deal sooner than later.