My man Tua Tagovailoa Signs Historic Deal with Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million extension, including $167 million guaranteed. This is the richest contract in franchise history and the eighth most guaranteed money among NFL quarterbacks.
Why the Dolphins Made the Commitment
- Improved Performance: Tagovailoa has blossomed under coach Mike McDaniel, leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with a career-high 4,624 yards.
- Consistency and Growth: He has shown growth and consistency, completing 67.4% of his passes, with the fourth-most passing yards and fifth-most touchdowns in the NFL since McDaniel’s arrival.
- Franchise Cornerstone: The Dolphins believe Tagovailoa is their franchise cornerstone, ending a two-day standoff and demonstrating their faith in his abilities.
Context and Impact
- Second Multiyear Extension: Tagovailoa is only the second quarterback to sign a multiyear extension with the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired.
- Fourth Quarterback from 2020 Class: He joins Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts as quarterbacks from the 2020 class to sign extensions with their drafting teams.
- Public Support: The Dolphins have publicly supported Tagovailoa, and this deal marks their largest display of faith in him.
- Risks for the Dolphins:
- Injury Concerns: Tagovailoa’s injury history will always come up in pundit commentary…about how it may pose a risk, as a significant portion of the contract is guaranteed.
- Performance Pressure: The large contract will create pressure on Tagovailoa to perform exceptionally well, which could impact his gameplay good or bad.
- Reasons for the Delay:
- Negotiations: The time it took to agree on the contract terms and conditions.
- Cap Space Management: The Dolphins may have needed time to manage their salary cap to accommodate the large contract.
- Impact on Other Teammate’s Contracts:
- Cap Space: The significant amount allocated to Tagovailoa’s contract may limit the team’s ability to sign or extend other players’ contracts.
- Comparative Contracts: Other players may request similar or higher contracts based on Tagovailoa’s deal, potentially affecting team dynamics and negotiations.
Congrats to Tua! Good job taking care of those in the house FINS!
From the Opinion Gallery: Here are the top quarterbacks in the NFL for 2024:
- Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs QB, considered the current standard at the position.
- Lamar Jackson: Baltimore Ravens QB, one of the league’s toughest players to defend on a down-to-down basis.
- Brock Purdy: San Francisco 49ers QB has already made 2 NFC title games and 1 Super Bowl.
- Jalen Hurts: Philadelphia Eagles QB, has a penchant for clutch toughness and an elite setup.
- Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills QB, a perennial MVP type due to his Superman skill set.
- Joe Burrow: Cincinnati Bengals QB, a pocket surgeon with top-tier weaponry to go with a bolstered front.
- C.J. Stroud: Houston Texans QB, a level-headed leader and downfield attacker with a growing skill group.
- Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys QB, solid enough in every facet with a steady supporting cast.
- Justin Herbert: Los Angeles Chargers QB, has the arm and a new coach to settle things down.
- Jordan Love: Green Bay Packers QB, a gifted thrower with the moxie of a long-term playmaker. Coincidentally, just after the Tua deal, Packers QB Jordan Love agreed to four-year extension worth $220M, making him the highest paid QB in NFL history (a shared position – The $55 million average per year matches the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow for the highest in league history.).