As ESPN’s Jeff Darlington shared in his recent SportsCenter appearance, the contract talks between the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are progressing. While they haven’t finalized a deal, both parties remain engaged in the negotiations, which started in June.
Darlington added that there’s no indication of the negotiations going nowhere because the Dolphins value Tagovailoa’s worth to their success. However, he hasn’t signed a contract probably because his camp wanted a deal that rivals what the highest-paid quarterbacks received. As of writing, six quarterbacks have contracts with an annual average of at least $51 million.
The #Dolphins can't pay Tua Tagovailoa market price due to his injury history and inconsistency on the field. Committing top-tier money to a player with these concerns is a huge risk. You don’t pay elite money to good players. #NFL
— Doctor Gridiron (@DrGridiron_MD) June 26, 2024
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Tagovailoa’s 2023 performance bolstered his chances of getting a contract extension. In addition to completing the regular season, he threw for 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. The Dolphins finished with an 11-6 record but lost in the Wild Card round to eventual Super Bowl LVIII champions Kansas City Chiefs.
More importantly, it’s the first time he completed a regular season in four years. That sign of durability should come into play as both parties finalize the terms of Tagovailoa’s contract extension. Once that deal is in the bag, he can focus on training camp and be the best quarterback. Luckily for him, having Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr. will help his cause.
-Lance Fernandez