Tua Tagovailoa plays hardball with Miami Dolphins over contract renewal

Bill | Miami Dolphins
May 20, 2024

Star QB holds out for record-breaking contract amid negotiations

Tua Tagovailoa's future with Dolphins in limbo

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Tua Tagovailoa has undeniably been a game-changer for the Miami Dolphins since his arrival. As the franchise looks to secure their star quarterback for the long haul, Tagovailoa is proving to be a tough negotiator. The 26-year-old is holding out for a contract far more lucrative than the Dolphins‘ initial offer.

Drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama graduate signed a four-year deal with Miami worth $30 million, including a fifth-year option valued at $23.5 million. The Dolphins have exercised this option, signaling their intent to keep Tagovailoa, but the quarterback’s demands have raised the stakes considerably.

Top-tier quarterback contracts have skyrocketed in recent years, and one NFL executive predicts Tagovailoa’s deal will be no different. Speaking to Dolphin Nation, the executive estimated, “They’ve groomed him, he’s going to get better. You don’t want to lose him. It was so hard to get a quarterback… It’s just finding that balance. My guess is $55 million [per year], maybe it’s more.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while the Dolphins have initiated contract discussions, their initial offers have been rebuffed by Tagovailoa. On SportsCenter, Fowler noted, “They have had contract talks, preliminary talks. I’m told that the Dolphins have made at least one contract offer but we know how these things go; the offer apparently hasn’t been good enough.”

Contract talks stall Tua Tagovailoa’s OTA participation

Fowler also concurred that Tagovailoa is in line for a massive payday, likely exceeding $50 million annually. “The market is pretty set. We saw Jared Goff, $50-plus million a year, that’s going to apply to Tua,” Fowler added.

Currently, the Dolphins are deep into organized team activities (OTA), but their star QB has been conspicuously absent. Fowler believes Tagovailoa’s absence is linked to the ongoing contract negotiations. “He has missed some OTA time, I’ve confirmed, and really it could depend on how negotiations go with his contract as to whether he starts to show up or is there full-time,” Fowler said.

Tagovailoa, who earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, has formed a formidable partnership with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, creating headaches for opposing defenses. Whether this dynamic duo will continue to wreak havoc beyond this season remains uncertain as contract talks drag on.

Dolphins fans eagerly await a resolution, hoping to see more of Tagovailoa’s magic at Hard Rock Stadium. For now, the ball is in the Dolphins’ court as they strive to lock down their franchise quarterback for the future.

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