Playoff flop raises questions about Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's future

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is under a microscope after Saturday’s disappointing wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

In the 26-7 defeat, he completed 20-of-39 passes for 199 yards, one TD, one interception and a below-average 15.8 QBR. This wasn’t ideal for the former first-round pick, who’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” Tagovailoa said of his future, via Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. “I have full trust in myself. I have full trust in what I’m capable of doing for our organization. Outside of that, we’re focusing on tonight and what happened. We’re going to simmer on this and see what we can do to get better from it going into next year.”

Spotrac estimates the 25-year-old’s market value is a six-year deal worth $50.4M annually, fifth at his position. While he led the league in passing yards in the regular season (4,624 in 17 games), his lack of postseason success might dissuade Miami. He has no playoff wins in four seasons.

The Ringer’s Danny Heifetz suggested the Dolphins could do the same thing the Rams did in 2021 when they dealt Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.

“The Rams gave Goff a contract extension in September 2019, a few months after they lost the Super Bowl, but traded him just one year later and immediately won the Super Bowl with Stafford,” wrote Heifetz. “It is not difficult to envision a similar scenario unfolding where the Dolphins re-sign Tagovailoa, but run out of offensive answers at the end of the year.”

To be fair to Tagovailoa, Miami has other issues. In the regular season, it was 22nd in the league in points allowed (23.2). Still, the Dolphins need him to step up in big games, or they might consider a shocking change.

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