Tua Tagovailoa makes decision on Miami Dolphins future as he enters final year of contract
Tua Tagovailoa seemingly has no plans of holding out despite failing to come to an agreement with the Dolphins on a new deal
Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, has shown up for voluntary OTA's this week, despite not yet agreeing a contract extension. The star player is in the final year of his contract and reportedly turned down a long-term offer from the team last week.
ESPN has reported that Tagovailoa is seeking a salary comparable to Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow, all of whom have secured hefty extensions in the past year. Last season, the Dolphins' quarterback led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards, throwing 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in his most successful campaign to date.
While the Dolphins are keen to secure a deal for Tagovailoa, they seem hesitant about offering him a contract similar to those received by other quarterbacks recently. Despite battling injuries throughout his career, Tagovailoa has faced criticism for his arm strength, particularly when star receiver Tyreek Hill was unavailable.
However, the former Alabama college football star doesn't seem too bothered by the situation with the Dolphins at present, having reported for OTA's this week and practised with his team ahead of the 2024 season.
Tagovailoa is the only quarterback from the 2020 NFL Draft's first two rounds yet to bag an extension, with peers like Hurts and Burrow already locked down with new deals. Even Justin Herbert and Jordan Love have inked contracts beyond their rookie terms.
Dolphins GM Will Grier recently opened up about Tagovailoa's contract talks, stating: "I think we're hopeful. When you go through these things... these are deals that very rarely come together quickly. There are a lot of pieces and moving parts. We've had positive discussions so far, and we'll keep working here throughout the offseason."
The benchmark for Tagovailoa's negotiations is likely set at around $53 million - the sum Goff pocketed from the Detroit Lions earlier this month.
In a similar boat is Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott, who's in the final year of his contract and eyeing a salary that matches the top quarterbacks in the league. Both Tagovailoa and Prescott are expected to be keeping tabs on each other's developments, with each probably aiming for a payout in the region of $53-55 million from their respective franchises.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.