Miami Dolphins ‘planning’ to protect themselves in upcoming Tua Tagovailoa contract extension
The Miami Dolphins wanted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a contract extension before signing him to a contract extension. Now that he has, it appears Miami is ready to extend him but only on a deal that still offers them protection.
Miami has reason to be worried about Tagovailoa’s long-term availability. He suffered multiple head injuries during the 2022 NFL season, prompting him to consider retirement. Even with fears that another concussion could potentially end his career and impact his health, Tagovailoa returned to football.
The decision paid off, with Tagovailoa performing like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during the regular season. Miami saw what it needed to, with its starter demonstrating that he can both stay on the field and play at a high level. However, while they’re now ready to sign him to a long-term deal, even that comes with a caveat.
Because of how the Dolphins are reportedly planning to structure Tagovailoa’s contract, he likely won’t receive as much guaranteed money as the likes of Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Justin Herbert. While the initial terms of the deal might be reported as such, that will be the number put out by Tagovailos’ agent.
The good news for the Dolphins’ quarterback is that Miami is willing to pay him and is receptive to making a deal happen this summer. If he repeats what he did in 2023, both the production and durability, he’ll likely earn close to every dollar of his contract. If he has a repeat of the 2022 campaign, however, Miami will have protected itself financially.
The Miami Dolphins flourished in 2023 under head coach Mike McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa. Miami’s offense boasts incredible speed and put up some absurd performances, including a 70-point game against the Broncos in Week 3. The future of Tua in Miami hangs in the balance as the star QB made a major decision amid contract negotiations.
According to CBS’s Jonathan Jones, the Miami Dolphins have been without Tua Tagovailoa for a large majority of voluntary offseason workouts. The Dolphins reported back on April 15th.
His absence is a stark difference from his previous four years with the team, where he was present for most of the voluntary workouts.
Tagovailoa’s absence is believed to be related to his contract status. He will play on the fifth-year option in 2024 worth $23.17 million. Tagovailoa is seeking a long-term extension with the Dolphins.
The price tag for Tua’s contract likely went up recently. Last week, the Detroit Lions gave QB Jared Goff a four-year $212 million contract extension. That contract has an average annual value of $53 million.
The first numbers announced for NFL contract extensions rarely reflect the salary cap number and other information that NFL fans care about. That said, agents do use those figures in contract negotiations and place some importance on being connected to landing their players record-breaking contracts.
