NFL insider provides troubling update on Tua Tagovailoa contract talks with Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is skipping organized activities to leverage his contract negotiations, aiming to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid players. However, the discussions are not progressing smoothly.
The Dolphins could have extended Tagovailoa’s contract after his third season, but both ownership and the front office agreed against a long-term commitment at that time. Despite Tagovailoa’s strong performance in 2022, his multiple head injuries caused uncertainty about his future.
After a high-level performance in 2023, the Dolphins are now open to a contract extension for their franchise quarterback, but they want the terms to heavily favor the team. Currently, the two sides are not agreeing on the contract details.
“He has missed some OTA time, I’ve confirmed, and it really depends on how negotiations with his contract go to determine whether he starts to show up or is there full time. They have had contract and preliminary conversations. I’m told the Dolphins made at least one contract offer, but we all know how these things go; the offer evidently wasn’t good enough, or he’d be there full-time. So the market is fairly fixed. We watched Jared Goff earn $50 million or more per year, and that will apply to Tua and Trevor Lawrence.”
ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler revealed on Sunday’s SportsCenter that Tagovailoa has already turned down at least one contract offer from the Dolphins this year.
While the specifics of Miami’s offer remain undisclosed, recent NFL rumors indicate the Dolphins are seeking financial protections in the contract in case of injury, which is standard but particularly emphasized for Tagovailoa. The team has the right to seek such terms, especially early in negotiations. However, the current market rate for top-12 quarterbacks in the NFL is around $50 million per season. While Miami could use franchise tags on Tagovailoa in 2025 and 2026, this strategy would be costly in the long run.